News & Updates

Issue 4: May 14, 2025

This month: Turn your dream into a business (or grow the business you already have!); a downtown institution has been named one of the Commonwealth’s 100 Best Places to Work.

EforAll Business Accelerator

APPLICATION DEADLINE JULY 16

Are you starting a new business, need help with a business plan, or trying to grow your business?

The EforAll Accelerator Program is a free, 12-week program offered twice a year. This program offers a unique combination of immersive business training, mentorship, and access to an extended professional network. Anyone with a dream to start or grow a business or nonprofit is encouraged to apply.

How it works:

• Entrepreneurs attend classes as part of a “cohort” (up to 15 other entrepreneurs) taught by content specialists twice a week. Classes will be a mix of online and in-person.
  

• Entrepreneurs meet online with their very own team of  Mentors for a minimum of 60 minutes every week to help guide them in taking their idea to the next level.
  

• At the end, an in-person Showcase and Celebration event is held for entrepreneurs to celebrate their Accelerator Program accomplishments with friends, family, and the community.
  

• Total weekly time commitment is 8-10 hours, including 5 hours of classes, 1-1.5 hours of online mentor meetings, and additional time to work on your business.

• View full training calendar here.
  

Who can apply?

The Accelerator Program is open to all individuals located in Berkshire County and is offered at no cost.

EforAll’s program works with individuals across a wide range of industries and it is open to people who are still in the idea stage, people with a hobby looking to take it to the next level, or those looking to pivot and grow an existing business or nonprofit.

Biz-M-Power Grant

APPLICATION DEADLINE JUNE 15

Mass Development’s Biz-M-Power funding opportunity is available for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and no more than $2.5 million in revenues.

This program aims to help small and micro-businesses offset the costs of acquisitions, expansions, improvement or lease of a facility, purchase or lease of equipment, and other capital needs. Businesses interested in applying will have to show the required 20% of the owner’s funds available at the application point to be considered.

Who can apply?

• Entrepreneur or small business must be based in Massachusetts with a brick-and-mortar (physical) establishment operating within Massachusetts.
  

• Employing fewer than 20 employees, including 1 or more of whom owns the business.
  

• Annual revenue not exceeding $2,500,000.

Door Prize to open in Hotel Downstreet

Following a sold-out Mother’s Day brunch, Door Prize, offering “European comfort food,” is set to open in mid-June at Hotel Downstreet. The restaurant will serve lunch on Saturdays through Mondays, and dinner from Thursday through Saturday.

Owners Bryan “Swifty” Josephs and Jenny Klowden previously ran a pop-up restaurant on the MASS MoCA campus and have been a North Adams Farmer’s Market favorite.

Stay tuned for details about the grand opening!

MountainOne Among 100 Best Places to Work

MountainOne announced this month that it has been named a 2025 Best Places to Work by the Boston Business Journal.

The Boston Business Journal’s annual ranking showcases the Massachusetts companies that excel in fostering and sustaining exceptional work environments for their employees. The 100 companies honored in 2025 range in size and industry, with winners from various sectors, including financial, technology, retail, and health care.

Hatchlings North Adams

The Eagle Street Parklet glittered during the May First Friday opening celebration of the Hatchlings North Adams. The event opened with remarks by North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, North Adams Partnership Executive Director Jenny Wright, artist Vanessa Till Hooper, and Assets for Artists’ Molly Rideout, followed by a family-friendly dance party with performances by musician Ciarra Fragale and choreographer Molly Hess.

The Hatchlings will light up North Adams through early October—Follow First Fridays NAMA on Social Media for updates on Hatchlings North Adams summer programs!

Route 2 Overpass Study Community Info Sessions

If you missed the April 5 visioning event for the Route 2 Overpass Study, you still have lots of opportunities to learn more about the project, ask questions, and make your voice heard! The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the North Adams Partnership will co-host several community information sessions Tuesdays from 5:30–6:30pm throughout the months of May and June in locations throughout the city:

May 27, 5:30pm: Freight Yard Pub
June 10, 5:30pm: UNO Center
June 17, 5:30pm: Elks Lodge
June 24, 5:30pm: North Adams Public Library

Events are free and open to the public. No pre-registration required.

Berkshire State of Work Summit June 18

Join a convening of Berkshire employers by Berkshire Community College, MassHire, the Berkshire Innovation Center, and 1Berkshire to take on the biggest workforce challenges facing our local economy on June 18 from 8am–4pm at Berkshire Community College.

JD Chesloff, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, will deliver the Welcome Keynote.

Attend sessions with 40+ speakers sharing challenges and solutions for recruiting, retention, training, workforce skill development, communication, and much more!

Share your updates!

If you have an update about a development project in North Adams or you are involved with an initiative helping to grow North Adams, we’d love to share it in our next monthly newsletter! Submit by clicking on the button below.