PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Using a FY23 Regional Economic Development Projects Grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, 1Berkshire has awarded 52 facade improvement grants through its Best Foot Forward Program.
The Best Foot Forward Program, now in its second pilot year, provided small businesses and organizations with a pedestrian-facing facade, storefront, or presence with grants of up to $1000 to support non-construction improvements to their respective business aesthetic. Improvements ranged from window cleaning to painting, to plantings, lighting, seating, and more. Through the program in FY23, $48,000 was awarded across 11 communities in the Berkshires, improving the facade presence of at least 81 individual businesses, and supporting over $67,000 in additional private investment in facade improvements across the grant awardees.
"It's programs like this that showcase how small investments and support can inspire incredible things, bolster economic development, and improve our small business community in grassroots ways," said Benjamin Lamb, 1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development.
The grant recipients for the FY23 program are:
Braytonville Properties LLC - Adams
Adams Theater LLC - Adams
Full Well Farm - Adams
The Neon Newt - Becket
B F Sullivant Post 155 - Dalton
Berkshire Dry Goods - Great Barrington
Robin's Candy - Great Barrington
Familiar Trees - Great Barrington
Red Shirt Farm - Lanesborough
Concepts of Art LTD - Lenox
Ventfort Hall - Lenox
The Mount - Lenox
The Gifted Child - Lenox
Hado-Mark Gallery - Lenox
His Daughter Paloma - Lenox
Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio - Lenox
Church on the Hill - Lenox
Brook Farm Inn - Lenox
Belvoir Terrace Inc. - Lenox
WAM Theatre - Lenox
Catwalk Boutique - Lenox
Gail Grandchamp Personal Training Studio - North Adams
Roots Teen Center - North Adams
Berkshire Cider Project / The Garage - North Adams
Wallasauce & Conscientious Cloth / Wait-A-Minute - North Adams
Boxcar Media LLC - North Adams
Heart's Pace - North Adams
Berkshire Emporium - North Adams
Kempville Flags Inc. - North Adams
Trail House Kitchen and Bar - North Adams
42 Summer LLC - Pittsfield
Berkshire Graphics Inc. - Pittsfield
Pittsfield Residences LLC - Pittsfield
Circa - Pittsfield
Soma's Aromas - Pittsfield
Steven Valenti Inc. - Pittsfield
Berkshire Music School - Pittsfield
Ledgewood Team LLC - Pittsfield
Berkshire Art Center (IS183) - Pittsfield
Deidre's Special Day - Pittsfield
Harte's Package and Variety - Pittsfield
Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield - Pittsfield
Norman Rockwell Museum - Stockbridge
The Floor Store - West Stockbridge
Flourish Market - West Stockbridge
Nature's Closet & The Smoothie Spot - Williamstown
Mezze Bistro + Bar - Williamstown
Images Cinema - Williamstown
Wild Oats Cooperative Inc. - Williamstown
The Cottage - Williamstown
Williamstown Chamber - Williamstown
Cricket Creek Farm - Williamstown
Work associated with the grant awards is complete in many cases and still underway for some.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Thunderstorms Leave Downed Trees, Wires and Debris Across North County
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
A tree limb smashed in the cab on Mark Moulton's truck.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A severe thunderstorm hammered parts of North and Central County on Tuesday night, downing trees and limbs and leaving more than 8,000 customers without power.
The Berkshires, Eastern New York and parts of Southern Vermont were under a severe thunderstorm watch until 9 p.m. on Tuesday. The storm came through shortly after 6 p.m. with thunder and lightning and torrential rain.
Alerts and calls began streaming into dispatch and fire and police departments began calling in extra help.
When the rain let, the full extent of the damage could be seen — from uprooted century-old trees to scatterings of debris across streets and lawns.
As of 8:30, Brooklyn, Hoosac, Meadow, North Eagle just above Hospital Avenue were closed and the lower section of North Eagle was limited to one-way traffic. Trees were also down on Holbrook, Chestnut and Hall.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey had been getting a close-up look at the damage and speaking with residents.
"I've been trying to hit as many streets as I can so I have couple more streets to hit before I call it a night," the mayor said just before 9 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm hammered parts of North and Central County on Tuesday night, downing trees and limbs and leaving more than 5,000 customers without power. click for more
Today, the backyard sport has a presence on national television, merchandise ranging from boards to customized beanbags and partnerships with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs and Special Olympics.
click for more