1Berkshire Announces USDA Funded Winter 2025 Technical Assistance Offerings

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire, thanks in part to funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced its upcoming slate of technical assistance offerings through the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program (BERP).
 
Through its series of cohorts spanning nearly four years, the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program Technical Assistance series has been able to support more than 200 businesses through targeted training and focused convenings and quantified by over $2,500,000 in funding collectively accessed by businesses through their participation. 
 
Going into the Winter of 2025, the program will continue on with three upcoming cohorts. These cohorts will each provide up to seven participating organizations/businesses support through a two-hour kick-off workshop and resources, followed by up to two additional hours of one-on-one direct targeted technical assistance by a paid provider. 
 
1Berkshire, through competitive grant funding secured from the USDA, is able to provide this high-impact service at no cost to businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations located in any of the 32 cities and towns of Berkshire County, representing a more than $1,000 direct value per business in each cohort.
 
The upcoming cohort kickoff dates are:
  • Jan. 23, 9am-11am - Building a Social Media Marketing Strategy, with Francesca Olsen (Session full - Waitlist open)
  • Jan. 28, 4pm-6pm - Let’s Jumpstart Your Crowdfunding Campaign, with Laura Christensen
  • Feb. 18, 4pm-6pm - Let Robots Do The Work: AI Tools for Small Business Success, with Jenny Bergman
Because the BERP Technical Assistance is FREE, each cohort has a capacity of seven participants; space is very limited, and registration is required. For details on these technical assistance offerings and to register, visit: https://bit.ly/BERPTA
 
For more information, or for additional inquiries, contact the 1Berkshire Economic Development Team at EconomicDev@1berkshire.com.

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Dalton Fire District Approves Tentative Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Fire District's Prudential Committee approved an anticipated budget of more than three million during its meeting last week. 
 
The district's projected budget amounts to $3,569,222.44, comprising the budgets for the commissioner, treasurer, Water Department, and Fire and Ambulance services. This is an increase of $44,542.44
 
The Board of Water Commissioners voted to recommend utilizing $375,000 from the funds raised by the ambulance to offset the amount to appropriate. 
 
The district's Board of Water Commissioners and Prudential Committee collaborated during the budgeting process to mitigate increases. 
 
The Fire Departments and Emergency Medical Services' budgets total is forecast at $1,847,512, a decrease of $26,096. 
 
The department initially requested a budget of $2,052,512. However, the board voted last week to remove Articles 22 through 24, which amounted to $205,000 in spending, until its free cash is certified.  
 
Article 22 requested $80,000 to create an apparatus replacement fund. 
 
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