Market 32 Customers Donate Over 50K Food Bags to Local Pantries

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Market 32 customers donated over 50,000 pre-packed food bags to local food banks and pantries between Nov. 10, 2024, and Jan. 4, 2025. 
 
A total of 50,902 $10 food bags filled with essential items such as elbow macaroni, peanut butter, canned tuna, and kidney beans were collected to support neighbors in need.
 
Each store selected a local organization to benefit from the donations, helping address nutrition insecurity in their communities. The initiative, part of the chain's ongoing commitment to community support, directly impacted individuals facing hunger during the holiday season.
 
"The holiday season brings our blessings to mind but also reminds us that there are alarming numbers of people close to home experiencing nutrition insecurity," said Pam Cerrone, Market 32/Price Chopper director of community relations. "Local food banks and pantries are on the front lines assisting and rely on the generosity of community members. Market 32 and Price Chopper guests are most generous, and we are pleased to have joined with them to support local organizations and make a tangible difference in the lives of the people they serve through this collection."
 
 
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Governor Healey Announces $2M Boost for Pittsfield Tech Hub

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Governor Maura Healey visited the Berkshire Innovation Center on Wednesday to see where millions in state funding will help build a tech hub for advanced optics. 

On the same day, her administration announced a $2 million award to the BIC for its upcoming Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Lab.  This is on top of $5 million from the MA Tech Hub designation and a total of $1 million from the city’s economic development funds

"This is so inspiring to be at this site to look out at what was and to see how it's coming back to life in a new and even better form," Healey said, looking over at the former "moonscape" surface of Site 9 that is now greened over, a $10 million effort. 

"…One thing that we've leaned into as an administration is innovation. It's been core to who we are." 

An 8,000-square-foot addition is planned for the BIC to welcome a new company, Myrias Optics Inc. Myrias, a meta-optics producer, has a partnership with BIC tenant Electro Magnetic Applications for testing and simulation services, and the two companies will be able to work side by side once the expansion is complete. 

Project funding has been closed with this award, and shovels will be in the ground in the fall. Myrias will bring up to 55 employees to Pittsfield with an average salary of $110,000.

Patrick Larkin, founder and director of the Innovation Institute, the economic development division of the MassTech Collaborative, said this was only possible through the Tech Hub program that has "really catalyzed communities."

"This region has captured advanced optics. It’s where they want to build an economy," he reported. 

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