Community Development Corporation South Berkshire Becomes Impact South County

Print Story | Email Story
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. After more than four decades, Community Development Corporation South Berkshire (CDCSB) has announced a new name: Impact South County.
 
The new name reflects the organization's evolution while reaffirming the mission that has guided its work since its founding, stated a press release. 
 
While affordable housing remains at the heart of the organization, its work today also includes small business support, community partnerships, and strategic investments that strengthen the region's long-term vitality.
 
"We have really begun to move the needle on affordability in the Berkshires" said Jim Harwood,
interim executive director. "And not only on housing. Our mission includes much more than building homes- it's about creating opportunities for people to live, work, and thrive."
 
"As our work has grown, we wanted a name that better reflects the impact we're making across South County while honoring the commitment we've had to this community for more than 40 years," he added.
 
That impact is reflected in projects across the region, including the recently launched Egremont Duplex Homes workforce homeownership development, the planned 69-unit affordable housing community on West Center Street in Lee, the preservation of Thornewood as workforce housing, and technical assistance that helps local entrepreneurs build stronger businesses.
 
While the organization's name is changing, its mission, staff, board, and commitment to South Berkshire County remain the same. 
 
During the transition, the organization will use the name Impact South County, formerly Community Development Corporation South Berkshire, to ensure continuity and recognition.
 
The community is invited to celebrate this next chapter at Impact South County's annual End of Summer Block Party on Sunday, Aug. 30, featuring live music, local food, children's activities, and opportunities to connect with organizations working to build a stronger South
County.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories