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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Local Hockey Program's Alum Projected in NHL Draft

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An alumnus of the Atlantic Coast Academy hockey program is generating a lot of buzz heading into next week's National Hockey League entry draft.
 
And that attention can only help build the profile of the program Mike Taylor founded in 2022.
 
"The talent is here," Taylor said this week of ACA, which pairs hockey development and education for players from around the nation and the world. "I don't think as many people locally realize the talent we've had here. I don't think they realized we had a future NHL Draft pick playing in our home rink."
 
That prospect is Maksim Sokolovskii, who the NHL lists as the No. 40 North American skater in the June 26 draft.
 
Sokolovskii, a 6-foot-7 left-shot defenseman, scored 34 goals and collected 50 assists in 65 games playing for ACA in the 2024-25 season.
 
This year, he is playing for the London Knights of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, one of the top leagues of its kind in North America.
 
"Sokolovskii is a massive and highly athletic defenseman," analyst Corey Pronmon wrote this month for The Athletic. "He's a strong, mobile player who's very physical and projects to make a ton of stops."
 
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