Community & Economic Development Organizations

18 Degrees

18 Degrees is where the sun stands just below the horizon at daybreak. It’s more dark than light in that moment, and hard to see the way forward. At 18 Degrees – formerly Berkshire Children and Families – it’s our mission and privilege to meet people at that point, with the promise that for them, for all of us, the light will grow from the start of each new day.

18 Degrees promotes the well-being of children and youth, and the strength of families to build better communities in Western Massachusetts. We provide education, parenting skills and support, prevention and intervention, advocacy, and life skills across a spectrum of programs serving children, young people, individuals and families in four areas: early education and care; foster care and adoption; child and family well-being; youth and community development.

480 West Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-448-8281
18degreesma.org
[email protected]

1Berkshire

As the official Regional Economic Development Organization and Regional Tourism Council of Berkshire County, we are here to assist you in becoming a part of our dynamic region in Western MA, which is well-positioned for investment, growth, and development.

1Berkshire was created in June 2016 by a merger of four countywide economic development organizations: the Berkshire Economic Development Corporation, the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, and the Berkshire Creative Economy Council. By combining these entities, we leverage resources, improve efficiency, expand audience reach, and coordinate programs that benefit every area of the region. We are the voice of the Berkshire business community with a strong membership and a powerful network of resources.

66 Allen Street
PO Box 4829
Pittsfield, MA 01202
413-499-1600
1berkshire.com
[email protected]

Berkshire Black Economic Council

Our mission is to aid and advocate economic development with respect to education, neighborhood revitalization, arts and culture, business ownership, social programming, environmental justice, recruitment and retention of business regarding the black community of Berkshire Black Entrepreneurs.

33 Dunham Mall Suite 101
Pittsfield, MA 01201
berkshirebec.org
[email protected]

Berkshire County Regional Employment Board (BCREB)

The mission of Berkshire County Regional Employment Board (BCREB) is to develop opportunities that will assist Berkshire County households in securing the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and household stability. We do this by developing and implementing a continuum of services and programs that address the underlying causes of household instability and homelessness. Our institution serves to assist households to develop strategies to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency and collaborate with other human service providers, including grassroots organizations and faith-based organizations, to alleviate the causes and effects of household, housing, and community instability.

www.berkshirereb.org

Berkshire Enterprises

An affiliated program of Berkshire Community College Life Long Learning Workforce Development, our mission is to aid, encourage, train, nurture and advise entrepreneurs in the development, start-up and management of their business.

1350 West Street
Suite 301
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-236-2126
www.berkshireenterprises.com
[email protected]

Berkshire Immigrant Center

The mission of the Berkshire Immigrant Center is to advocate for the rights of all immigrants by helping them navigate the complex U.S. immigration system with affordable legal services, local resources, and education.

Berkshire Immigrant Center provides its clients with tools to help them overcome financial and cultural barriers, with the goals of strengthening civic engagement and creating equal opportunity for all. Berkshire Immigrant Center supports changes to systems which are unjust to immigrants, and supports state and national immigration advocacy efforts.

The Center assists more than 700 individuals annually from more than 60 countries in several languages. Our Case Workers are accredited by the Department of Justice to represent clients with the US Citizen and Immigration Services and give legal advice to those seeking immigration benefits in the US and education on civil rights.

67 East Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-445-4881
www.berkshireic.org
[email protected]

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

Berkshire Regional Planning Commission is the official region-wide planning agency in Berkshire County providing comprehensive planning services to municipalities which include land use, transportation, community and economic development, housing, public health, and environmental planning. BRPC promotes regional collaboration among communities and works to increase coordination between all levels of government. Volunteers and interns welcome on various projects.

1 Fenn Street, Suite 201
Pittsfield, MA 01201
413-442-1521
www.berkshireplanning.org

EforAll

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is accelerating economic and social impact in communities nationwide through inclusive entrepreneurship. Since 2013, EforAll has partnered with communities to help under-represented individuals successfully start their businesses.

833-336-7255 x7209
eforall.org/ma/berkshire-county/
[email protected]

Louison House

Louison House is a private, 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 1990 by local agencies to address issues of homelessness. As the only comprehensive housing agency in Northern Berkshire, Louison House works to serve our neighbors facing homelessness or housing insecurity.  Over the past three decades, Louison House has provided services to over 8,000 individuals and families struggling with homelessness in Northern Berkshire.

149 Church Street
North Adams, MA 01247
413-663-6323
www.louisonhouse.org
[email protected]

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network’s Western Regional Office provides free and confidential one-to-one business advice to prospective and existing small businesses. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network contributes to the entrepreneurial growth of small businesses throughout Massachusetts by providing high-quality, in-depth advising, training, and capital access.

Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network
Scibelli Enterprise Center
1 Federal Street, Building 101
Springfield, MA 01105
413-577-1768
www.msbdc.org/wmass/

Multicultural BRIDGE

Multicultural BRIDGE promotes mutual understanding and acceptance among diverse groups serving as a resource to both local institutions and the community at large.  We serve as catalysts for change through collaboration, education, training, dialogue, fellowship and advocacy.

Services include: Cultural Literacy and Cultural Competence Training, consulting & facilitation. Youth Leadership and Multicultural Education.  Parent Education. Civil Rights & Social Justice Forums & Conferences. Advocacy of diverse groups.

multiculturalbridge.org

Not in Our Berkshires Campaign to “Stop Hate. Together” With #AllHandsIn Approach

Contact:
Berkshire Resources for Integration of Diverse Groups and Education dba Multicultural BRIDGE
17 Main St, Suite 2
Lee, MA 01238
Phone: 413-394-4029
Email: [email protected]

North Adams Office of Community Development

Advises businesses on all matters related to the construction or rehabilitation of facilities. As well as managing the city’s public works and housing rehabilitation funding and serving as a resource to the city’s Zoning and Planning Boards.

City Hall
North Adams, MA 01247
413-662-3025 x 3025

Northern Berkshire Community Coalition

The mission of the Coalition is to improve the quality of life for people in northern Berkshire by organizing, supporting, and empowering the community. The Coalition works to achieve its mission by:

PROVIDING A PUBLIC PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY
Monthly meetings averaging over sixty participants are held the second Friday of each month, from September through May, at the First Baptist Church of North Adams. These meetings are open to all. Each year of forums begins in September with a public hearing offering the community an opportunity to help set the Coalition’s year long agenda. The Coalition News, mailed and e-mailed to over a thousand local citizens and organizations every month, includes articles about regional issues written by community members and Coalition staff. The Coalition also produces a monthly TV show about topics that will be presented at the monthly forum.

COMMUNITIES MOBILIZING FOR CHANGE ON ALCOHOL (CMCA)

CMCA is a multi-year project to reduce underage drinking by reducing teenagers access to alcohol and by establishing strong community norms against underage drinking in North Berkshire County.

BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS
The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition provides support, technical assistance, and leadership development for area neighborhoods through Northern Berkshire Neighbors. Northern Berkshire Neighbors works to engage residents in recognizing and addressing neighborhood and community issues through a variety of programs including neighborhood meetings and community events.

PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
UNITY (United, Neighboring, Interdependent, Trusted Youth), the Coalition’s youth development program, has been offering innovative, youth-driven programs since 1994.  Two staff serve as adult advisors to a variety of programming that involves students ages 14-19 from all over the northern Berkshire area.  Current projects include the Grooove concert series, a Teen Writing Workshop, the Youth Leadership Program, and the “411 in the 413″ Youth Conference.

Anyone who works or lives in the Northern Berkshire area and is interested in the work of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition is considered an affiliate of the Coalition. Coalition affiliation has included people of the Northern Berkshire community representing human services, businesses, clergy, higher education, local schools, local and state government, and local citizens. Voluntary contributions to help defray expenses are requested, but they do not affect affiliation with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.

The Coalition welcomes Williams student volunteers, interns and academic research partners.

61 Main Street, Suite 218
North Adams, MA 01247
413-663-7588
Contact: Al Bashevkin, [email protected], Executive Director

Schumacher Center for a New Economics

Founded in 1980 the Schumacher Center for a New Economics works to envision the elements of a just and regenerative global economy; undertakes to apply these elements in its home region of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts; and then develops the educational programs to share the results more broadly, thus encouraging replication.

140 Jug End Road
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-1737
[email protected]
centerforneweconomics.org/

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)

SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Since 1964, we have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs.

Western Massachusetts
One Federal Street, Building 101,2-E
Springfield, MA 01105
413-785-0314
www.score.org