Berkshire County — Thanks to a fiscal 2023 Regional Economic Development Projects Grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, 1Berkshire is excited to share that it 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 $1,000 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 2023, $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.
1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development Benjamin Lamb notes, “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.”
The grant recipients for the fiscal 2023 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 AdamsBoxcar 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. Be sure to visit and check out the inspiring work of the grant recipients and all of our small businesses in the Berkshires to see the great things happening in the region.
