PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Using a FY23 Regional Economic Development Projects Grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, 1Berkshire has awarded 52 facade improvement grants through its Best Foot Forward Program. 

 

The Best Foot Forward Program, now in its second pilot year, provided small businesses and organizations with a pedestrian-facing facade, storefront, or presence with grants of up to $1000 to support non-construction improvements to their respective business aesthetic. Improvements ranged from window cleaning to painting, to plantings, lighting, seating, and more. Through the program in FY23, $48,000 was awarded across 11 communities in the Berkshires, improving the facade presence of at least 81 individual businesses, and supporting over $67,000 in additional private investment in facade improvements across the grant awardees. 

 

 "It's programs like this that showcase how small investments and support can inspire incredible things, bolster economic development, and improve our small business community in grassroots ways," said Benjamin Lamb, 1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development. 

 

The grant recipients for the FY23 program are:

 

Braytonville Properties LLC - Adams

 

Adams Theater LLC - Adams

 

Full Well Farm - Adams

 

The Neon Newt - Becket

 

B F Sullivant Post 155 - Dalton

 

Berkshire Dry Goods - Great Barrington

 

Robin's Candy - Great Barrington

 

Familiar Trees - Great Barrington

 

Red Shirt Farm - Lanesborough

 

Concepts of Art LTD - Lenox

 

Ventfort Hall - Lenox

 

The Mount - Lenox

 

The Gifted Child - Lenox

 

Hado-Mark Gallery - Lenox

 

His Daughter Paloma - Lenox

 

Frelinghuysen Morris House & Studio - Lenox

 

Church on the Hill - Lenox

 

Brook Farm Inn - Lenox

 

Belvoir Terrace Inc. - Lenox

 

WAM Theatre - Lenox

 

Catwalk Boutique - Lenox

 

Gail Grandchamp Personal Training Studio - North Adams

 

Roots Teen Center - North Adams

 

Berkshire Cider Project / The Garage - North Adams

 

Wallasauce & Conscientious Cloth / Wait-A-Minute - North Adams

 

Boxcar Media LLC - North Adams

 

Heart's Pace - North Adams

 

Berkshire Emporium - North Adams

 

Kempville Flags Inc. - North Adams

 

Trail House Kitchen and Bar  - North Adams

 

42 Summer LLC - Pittsfield

 

Berkshire Graphics Inc. - Pittsfield

 

Pittsfield Residences LLC - Pittsfield

 

Circa - Pittsfield

 

Soma's Aromas - Pittsfield

 

Steven Valenti Inc. - Pittsfield

 

Berkshire Music School - Pittsfield

 

Ledgewood Team LLC - Pittsfield

 

Berkshire Art Center (IS183) - Pittsfield

 

Deidre's Special Day - Pittsfield

 

Harte's Package and Variety - Pittsfield

 

Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield - Pittsfield

 

Norman Rockwell Museum - Stockbridge

 

The Floor Store - West Stockbridge

 

Flourish Market - West Stockbridge

 

Nature's Closet & The Smoothie Spot - Williamstown

 

Mezze Bistro + Bar - Williamstown

 

Images Cinema - Williamstown

 

Wild Oats Cooperative Inc. - Williamstown

 

The Cottage - Williamstown

 

Williamstown Chamber - Williamstown

 

Cricket Creek Farm - Williamstown

 

Work associated with the grant awards is complete in many cases and still underway for some.