Mildred Elley Pittsfield Moving to New Campus in 2013

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mildred Elley Pittsfield is one of the first new tenants of the former KB Toys building at 100 West St.  

The career-training school announced on Thursday during an event for faculty, staff, students and community partners that it is relocating its campus by early 2013. The move is not expected to affect the current class schedule and officials said it "will be seamless for all students."
 
"This is a win-win situation for both our students and the community, said Faith Takes, president of Empire Education Corp. and Mildred Elley. "This will allow us to expand our campus and provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for our students. This relocation will also assist in the revitalization of the downtown Pittsfield corridor. Our students, staff and faculty will be spending money downtown which will provide an economic boost to the downtown businesses."

Mildred Elley Pittsfield and its more than 200 students are currently located at St. Luke's Square, a plaza at the corner of Elm and East Main Street. The KB building, vacant since the company went under, was purchased by Laurin Publishing in April.
 
"We are extremely excited about this upcoming move," said Lori Houlihan, campus president of Mildred Elley Pittsfield. "The building will have new medical labs, a model day-care room, and updated facilities to meet the needs of our students. This is a time of growth and opportunity for our campus and our students and we are so pleased to be a part of providing a quality education to individuals in the Berkshire community."
 
Mildred Elley was founded in 1991, renting space in St. Mark's School, and had worked in conjunction with the Berkshire Training and Employment Program (now BerkshireWorks) to establish a medical assisting program for displaced workers. The Pittsfield campus opened its doors with 30 students. Today, it offers nine programs in six academic areas. Students from the Pittsfield campus are also eligible to transfer to the Albany campus to earn associate's degrees.
Tags: relocation,   workforce training,   

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Pittsfield Cannabis Cultivator Plans Dispensary

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD. Mass. — A cannabis cultivator and manufacturer has opted to sell its products on site in Downing Parkway. 

The Zoning Board of Appeals this month approved a special permit for J-B.A.M. Inc. to operate a dispensary out of its existing grow facility. There will only be changes to the interior of 71 Downing Parkway, as there will be less than 500 square feet of retail space in the 20,000-square-foot building. 

"My only concern would be the impact, and really would be traffic, which I don't think is excessive, the odor, if there was one, but that doesn't seem to be an issue, and I think it's a good location for a marijuana facility," board member Thomas Goggins said. 

The company's indoor cultivation site plan was approved in 2019, an amendment to add manufacturing and processing in 2021, and on the prior day, a new site plan to add a retail dispensary was approved by the Community Development Board. 

J-B.A.M. cannabis products are available in local dispensaries. 

The interior of the facility will be divided to accommodate an enclosed check-in area, front entrance, retail lobby, secure storage room, offices, and two bathrooms. There are 27 parking spaces for the facility, which is sufficient for the use. 

No medical or recreational cannabis uses are permitted within 500 feet of a school or daycare, a setback that is met, and the space is within an industrial park at the end of a cul-de-sac. 

"The applicant desires the restructuring of the business to be more competitive in the industry with the ability to grow and sell their own cannabis products so they have more financial stability," Chair Albert Ingegni III, read from the application. 

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