News

April 30, 2018

Berkshire Bank Rallies Behind National Small Business Week with Events and $14,000 in Grants

Berkshire Bank will mark National Small Business Week (April 29-May 5, 2018) with its Berkshire Bank Foundation awarding $14,000 in grants to support Small Business Development Centers, SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) chapters and hosting events throughout its footprint.

As part of this celebration, Berkshire’s business banking teams will host events on various days during National Small Business Week.  The events will honor local SCORE chapters and Small Business Development Centers with $1,000 grants in recognition of their commitment to supporting and assisting local small businesses as an integral role in the economic development of the communities.

“We couldn’t be more proud to celebrate and honor small businesses for their hard work and success.” said Jamison Flora, VP, Business Banking Leader. “Small businesses make considerable positive impact on their local economies and companies like Berkshire need to pay it forward by rallying around aspiring entrepreneurs. We also applaud these organizations that are providing essential support to not only sustain small businesses, but help them thrive.”

The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) being recognized include:

  • Connecticut SBDC– University of Connecticut Foundation (Hartford, CT)
  • Berkshire Regional SBDC (Pittsfield, MA)
  • Western MA SBDC (Springfield, MA)
  • Central MA SBDC – Clark University (Worcester, MA)
  • Onondaga SBDC (Syracuse, NY)
  • University at Albany SBDC (Albany, NY)
  • SBDC Mohawk Valley- SUNY Polytechnic Institute (Utica, NY)
  • SBDC- The College of New Jersey (Ewing Township, NJ)

SCORE Chapters being honored include:

  • Western Massachusetts SCORE (Springfield, MA)
  • Worcester SCORE (Worcester, MA)
  • Northeast NY SCORE (Albany, NY)
  • Syracuse SCORE (Syracuse, NY)
  • Utica SCORE (Utica (NY)
  • Greater Hartford SCORE (Hartford, CT)

Berkshire is turning the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ‘National Small Business Week’ into a year-long celebration. Bank employees are contributing their skills and expertise to non-profit organizations working to support small business growth through its corporate volunteer program, XTEAM® and recently provided grants to organizations enhancing entrepreneurship and the health of the business community including:

  • Center for Women and Enterprise (Boston, MA)
  • Rutland Economic Development Corporation (Rutland, VT)
  • reSET (Hartford, CT)
  • International Hartford (Hartford, CT)
  • Interise (Boston, MA)
  • NewVue Communities (Fitchburg, MA)
  • Valley Venture Mentors (Springfield, MA)
  • Common Capital (Springfield, MA)
  • Mohawk Valley Edge (Rome, NY)
  • Centerstate Corporation for Economic Opportunity (Syracuse, NY)