Berkshire Theatre Group receives $100,000 grant
Pittsfield — Artistic Director/CEO Kate Maguire announced Berkshire Theatre Group is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program, through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, to support economic recovery from losses sustained by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is part of the Baker-Polito administration’s Economic Recovery Plan.
BTG Executive Director Nick Paleologos said, “We are so grateful to the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Senator Adam Hinds for this important grant which represents a strong vote of confidence from the state in the work we managed to do during the unprecedented COVID Summer of 2020. The MCC’s long-standing support and encouragement continues to be a source of great inspiration to our organization.”
—A.K.
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Greylock first lender in Berkshire County to accept next round of PPP applications
Pittsfield — As the only certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) located in Berkshire County, Greylock Federal Credit Union will be the first local lender allowed to accept applications for the next round of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The online application portal could be available as early as Monday and will give priority to minority, underserved, veteran, and women-owned businesses, as well as existing Greylock business members.
The recently passed Economic Aid Act included funds to restart the PPP program, with revisions intended to get money into the hands of small local businesses. The U.S. Treasury Department’s network of CDFIs has been granted early access to the program to allow these small businesses first access to the funds.
“Greylock’s focus on community development and our designation as a CDFI create a unique obligation for us to enable access to the PPP program as rapidly as possible,” said Greylock Senior Vice President Jodi Rathbun-Briggs. “According to official guidance, first-time applicants to the PPP program will be able to apply through their local CDFI as early as Monday and qualifying companies seeking a second round of loans may be allowed to apply as soon as Wednesday. However, the actual application was not published as of Friday. This makes it very unlikely that the program will begin as planned, but we hope to be ready.”
Details will be published on Greylock’s website as they are released. Greylock also has a hotline for PPP related questions at (413) 236-4041.
Rathbun-Briggs pointed out that there are other opportunities available through the new legislation that do not involve financial institutions. Business owners are urged to speak with their trusted accountant or advisor to determine the most appropriate route for their business.
—A.K.
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Berkshire Money Management donates more than $11,000 to drive-through food distribution for local families
Dalton — Berkshire Money Management (BMM) has teamed up with Berkshire Bounty, Berkshire United Way, Northern Berkshire United Way, and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires to assemble and distribute 1,000 bags of nutritious canned and packaged food throughout Berkshire County to celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. BMM has donated $11,000, as well as more than 1,000 re-useable grocery bags to help with food accessibility to Berkshire residents in need.
“This has been a devastating time for many of friends, family, and neighbors,” said BMM Community Development Director Nichole Dupont. “We hit the ground running last March, knowing that the community was going to be hard-hit by the pandemic. Access to food for our local families is an issue that is top of mind for everyone. We will continue our efforts to support the local community — young people, local business owners, social justice leaders, displaced residents — knowing full well that we can’t eradicate every problem, but that we will try our best to serve the community that has served us.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately 12 percent of all people in Berkshire County suffered from food insecurity. Over the course of the pandemic, this percentage has increased exponentially. Financed by Berkshire Money Management, Berkshire Bounty, and an anonymous donor, the January 18th distribution of 19,000 pounds of food will be countywide.
Distribution will take place at the Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires, at 16 Melville St., Pittsfield, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. During those hours, volunteers will place a bag of food in each car.
Volunteers will also deliver food to those who are not able to pick it up themselves. The food packing and distribution will take place in a safe, masked, and socially distant manner. To volunteer go to www.volunteerberkshireuw.org. Financial donations for future food distribution efforts are needed and can be made at www.berkshire-bounty.org.
For more information on BMM’s commitment to community efforts including STEM education, warm clothing donations, PPE distribution, help for local businesses, and social justice initiatives, please visit our “In the Press” page here: https://berkshiremm.com/who-we-are/in-the-press/.
—A.K.
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North Adams native to shoot short film in the Berkshires this summer
North Adams — North Adams native Nick Burchard is set to shoot his horror short film, ‘The Uncredited,’ in the local area during Summer 2021. ‘The Uncredited’ follows Isabel, a young actress whose past work holds a dark secret. With cameras rolling everywhere and the current space of social media, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can have horrible consequences for ordinary people. ‘The Uncredited’ brings the horror of this reality to Isabel as she sits down with her friends to watch a movie she appeared in long ago.
Burchard recently spoke with Spectrum News 1 about being “inspired by the local area.” The production teams behind the film, Tiny Viking Productions and Skylah Productions, are eager to hire a local crew and support local businesses in the film and arts communities after this tough year.
‘The Uncredited’ is currently using crowdfunding platform Seed & Spark to fund the film. After hitting 50 percent of its goal, the next three weeks are pivotal in securing the funding needed to bring the story to the big screen. Learn more about the film by visiting: https://www.seedandspark.com/fund/the-uncredited.
