1Berkshire Announces Spring 2026 Technical Assistance Offerings

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire, thanks in part to funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC), announced its upcoming slate of technical assistance offerings through the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program (BERP).

The Berkshire Economic Recovery Program Technical Assistance series has been able to support more than 250 businesses through targeted training and focused convenings, resulting in business improvements, and quantified by over $3,000,000 in funding collectively accessed by businesses through their participation.

Going into the Spring of 2026, the program is excited to continue with four educational cohorts. These cohorts will each provide between five to seven participating organizations/businesses support through a two-hour kick-off workshop with learning resources and specific actionable guidance, followed by up to two additional hours of one-on-one direct targeted technical assistance by the workshop expert. 1Berkshire, through competitive grant funding secured from the USDA and partnership support from PERC, is able to provide this service at no cost to businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations located in any of the 32 cities and towns of Berkshire County, representing more than $1,000 in  direct value per business in each cohort.

The upcoming cohort kickoff dates are:

  • April 23, 9am-11am - Building a Social Media Marketing Strategy, with Francesca Olsen 

  • April 27, 4pm-6pm - Turning Retail Visuals into Revenue: Ins and Outs of Visual Merchandising, with Alex LaValley 

  • May 7, 4pm-6pm - Exploring Employee Ownership, with Kevin Pink

  • May 13, 8:30am-10am - Succession Planning for Small Businesses: Understanding Your Options and Preparing for Transition, with Robin Helfand

Because the BERP Technical Assistance is FREE, each cohort has a capacity of between five to seven participants; space is very limited, and registration is required. For details on these technical assistance offerings and more, visit: https://1berkshire.com/economic-development/businesses/

For more information, or for additional inquiries, please contact the 1Berkshire Economic Development Team at EconomicDev@1berkshire.com.


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Wixsom Leads Force 12U Softball Team in Tourney Opener

iBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Emma Wixsom struck out eight of the nine batters she faced in Friday’s opener of the Berkshire Fall Frenzy as the host Force 12-and-under travel softball team beat the Greylock Thunder, 14-0, in three innings.
 
Wixsom was credited with a perfect game in the contest, which was ended by the tournament’s run rule.
 
McKinley Bushika led the Force’s offense, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Charlotte Kotski tripled, and Lilly Tuohy doubled in a nine-hit attack.
 
In its second game in the six-team tournament on Friday evening, the Force beat the East Greenbush, N.Y., Xpress Crushers, 5-3.
 
Peyton Demary went 3 and two-thirds innings in the circle before giving the ball to Wixsom. Demary struck out eight while allowing two earned runs.
 
Kotski was a difference maker at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI in a six-hit attack for the Force.
 
Berkshire Saturday starts its day against the 413 Panthers out of Hampden at the Doyle Complex.
 
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