Business Briefs: Entry to Entrepreneurship; millennial retention for employers; United Way celebration; matching homeowner grants in Lenox

Entry to Entrepreneurship showcase

Sheffield – Students in BerkShares Inc.’s Entry to Entrepreneurship program will present their business plans to the public on Tuesday, April 12, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Dewey Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Following a curriculum co-developed by BerkShares, Inc. and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center’s Berkshire Regional Office, the 10-week program guides students through the process of writing business plans with the helps of members of the local business community. BerkShares, Inc. will award each student 200 BerkShares in seed money. If students decide not to pursue their business ideas right away, BerkShares, Inc. will share their business plans in an online business plan library.

Audience members will be invited to ask questions of the students and join a conversation about business opportunities in the Berkshires. There is no fee for admission, but donations will be welcome to help fund the future development of the Entry to Entrepreneurship program. For ore information call (413) 528-1737.

–E.E.

*     *     *

1Berkshire to hold millennial attraction/retention event

Pittsfield — 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Initiative for Growth (B.I.G.) will present “Our Next B.I.G. Idea: Understanding the Future of Work and How to Attract and Retain Millennials” on Wednesday, April 13, from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre.

The event will feature remarks from Brad Lande, CEO of Live in the Grey; a panel discussion with Berkshire CEOs who have embraced unique workplace philosophies; and a “Values at Work” training exercise. The cost of the event is $25 and online registration is available. Call 1Berkshire for more information at (413) 499-1600.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Berkshire United Way Live Community celebration

Pittsfield — Berkshire United Way will hold its annual Live United community celebration on Tuesday, April 12, at 7:30 a.m. at the Berkshire Hills Country Club.

The public breakfast event will feature the presentation of Pinnacle Awards to 25 corporate partners, the JC Penney Employee Campaign Coordinator award, the Robert K. Agar Jr. Volunteerism award, and the Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands/Caring Heart award. Speakers and presenters will include co-owner of Onyx Specialty Papers and chair of Berkshire United Way board of directors Christopher Matthews, local JC Penney store leader Mike Taft, Day of Caring co-chairs Christina Barrett and Michael Wynn, Taconic High School senior and Pittsfield Prevention Partnership volunteer Jetter White, Getting Ahead program graduate Vernon Cross, Greylock Federal Credit Union president and CEO and former Pittsfield Promise chair John Bissell, 2015 Daniel C. Dillon Helping Hands/Caring Heart award recipient Janet Dohoney, and Berkshire United Way president and CEO Kristine Hazzard.

Call the Berkshire United Way for more information at (413) 442-6948.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Lenox Fair Housing Loan Program matching grants opportunity

Lenox — The Town of Lenox Housing Trust has made available $50,000 in matching grant funding for qualified homebuyers to take advantage of the Federal Home Loan Bank Equity Builder Program administered by Lee Bank and Adams Community Bank. Grants in the amount of 5 percent toward purchase price (maximum of $10,000 per grant) can be given to qualifying homebuyers working with participating banks. Grants are given on a first-come, first-served basis with proven mortgage commitment from a participating lender, and the homebuyer must agree to a five-year declining recapture of the grant if the home is sold in the first five years. Applicants do not have to live in Lenox as long as the home is being purchased in Lenox. The program has helped six first-time homebuyers purchase homes in Lenox between 2013 and 2015.

For more information contact the Town of Lenox at (413) 637 5500 x1203, Adams Community Bank’s Tess Sorrentino at (413) 748-1181, or Lee Bank’s Marge Pero at (413) 243-9223.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Shire City Sanctuary Kickstarter campaign for new technology

Pittsfield — Shire City Sanctuary has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds needed to purchase new equipment for the makerspace. The campaign goal of $12,000 will allow Shire City Sanctuary to purchase an Ultimaker 2 Extended 3D printer, digital CNC router, Carousel screen printer, Wolf dressforms, a large format vinyl cutter, and tools for the shared commercial kitchen space. Rewards for backers range from classes in sewing and screen-printing to an early printing of the Dolphin Studio calendar.

For more information call Shire City Sanctuary at (413) 236-9600.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Hillcrest raises over $60,000 from annual St. Patrick’s gala

Pittsfield — Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc. raised close to $60,000 at its annual St. Patrick’s gala held March 18 at the Country Club of Pittsfield. Over 240 businesses and individuals supported the event via attendance, sponsorships, and donated auction items. Gala attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from a 15-year-old Hillcrest student who shared his story of losing his family in a fire and being in and out of failed placements. Massachusetts State Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, was selected as Irish Person of the Year and UNICO was honored with the Judge John A. Barry Award for Community Service.

–E.E.

*     *     *

Greylock’s Shenna Bradford promoted to assistant vice president

Pittsfield — Greylock Federal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Shenna Bradford to assistant vice president, e-commerce and contact center manager. Bradford has worked for Greylock since 2003 and has served as e-commerce and contact center manager since 2010. She will continue to manage these areas and is also responsible for Greylock’s e-service platforms.

Bradford is a 1993 graduate of Pittsfield High School and a 2000 graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. She volunteers as a financial tools teacher with Habitat for Humanity. Bradford lives in Pittsfield with her family.

–E.E.