National Conference on AI in Rural Economies In North Adams

08:24AM / Thursday, August 28, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — 1Berkshire, the Berkshire Innovation Center and the Center on Rural Innovation will hold a conference artificial intelligence on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

"Accelerating What's Possible: The Next Chapter for Rural Economies in the Age of AI" will be happening at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

"For five years, CORI and the Rural Innovation Network have been a vital conduit to improve practices, advancing initiatives, and finding tailored guidance," said Ben Lamb, vice president of economic development at 1Berkshire. "To be able to partner with them in bringing this national conference to our corner of the world is both energizing and an honor as we get to welcome in friends, peers and colleagues from near and far to think and act in ways to advance our regional economy and the rural economies we find kinship with."

This one-day national conference will bring together industry experts, policy leaders, rural economy innovators, and acceleration partners from across the country to the Berkshires to network, engage and set the course for the next chapter of rural economic development and innovation.

Starting in 2020, the Berkshire Tech Impact Collaborative, a coalition of 1Berkshire, the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, began working with CORI to assess and advance initiatives and opportunities aligned with the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 to catalyze, amplify, and accelerate the tech and innovation economy of the Berkshires.

"The incredible potential for technology and innovation to drive rural growth is evident in places like the Berkshires," said Matt Dunne, CORI founder and executive director. "We are excited to be able to host this national gathering in a state that is leading the nation's innovation economy and explore opportunities and challenges that the AI era presents for rural communities across the country."

For more information and to register for the conference, visit ruralinnovation.us/accelerating-whats-possible/

Tags: artificial intelligence, conference,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

View Full Story