PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire, EforAll Berkshire County, the Berkshire Innovation Center, and Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation, with support from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and the United States Economic Development Administration are excited to announce their upcoming Women and Minority Owned Business Certification Summit. 

 

This event, happening on Jan. 20, 2023, from 8am-1pm at the Berkshire Innovation Center, aims to bring together women and minority owned businesses in the Berkshires, resource providing partners, and educational presentations to support our women and minority owned business community through the process of becoming certified as such.

 

"We've seen firsthand how powerful certification of W/MBEs can be, and how unfortunate it can be when businesses aren't certified," Ben Lamb, 1Berkshire Director of Economic Development said. "Our hope is that by bringing eligible businesses together in a common space to network, learn, and engage resource providers with a mission to support them will help to foster a culture here where certification is accessible, supported, and common practice across our W/MBE business community." 

 

While the Berkshires heave businesses owned and operated by women, BIPOC individuals, immigrants, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with disabilities, a very small percentage of these businesses are formally certified as such. Certification of women and minority owned business enterprises (W/MBEs) is a tool for building business success, sustained revenue, acquiring larger contracts, and gaining access to critical resources for resiliency, recovery, and emergency issues. 

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, this lack of certification disadvantaged hundreds of businesses in the region and beyond who missed out on an array of grant and emergency funding resources only available to certified entities.

 

Since 2020, 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission have been working to provide referrals and technical assistance to W/MBEs to help businesses begin the process of getting certified.

 

"We are excited to empower local entrepreneurs to use all of the tools available to them," Allison Schmitt, Program Manager for EforAll Berkshire County said. "This summit is a great opportunity to learn about these valuable certifications, but also to network and continue building crucial relationships in the small business community."

 

Partners and panelists to which attendees will have direct access are coming onboard, but currently include, Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, Berkshire Immigrant Center, Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire, DEI Outdoors, LGBT Chamber of Massachusetts, and the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. 

 

This event will run from 8am-1pm, is free to attend, and will include light breakfast refreshments and lunch. Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, please go to: https://1berkshirestrategicalliancemacoc.weblinkconnect.com/events/Women%20Minority%20Owned%20Business%20Certification%20Summit-4433/details

 

Agencies that specifically provides support for businesses to go through the W/MBE certification, please contact the Economic Development Team at 1Berkshire at EconomicDev@1Berkshire.com.