1Berkshire Coordinates County-Wide 2020 Census Food & Beverage Initiative

BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MA – 1Berkshire – March 5th, 2020 – Pittsfield, MA.  As we approach the onset of the 2020 Census this month, 1Berkshire, the Berkshires’ regional economic development and marketing organization, has begun working with a variety of local restaurants, bars, and other food-based businesses to make sure that the 2020 Census is top of mind for those of you out and about enjoying a meal or a cocktail in the Berkshires.

As part of their involvement in the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Complete Count Committee, the Economic Development team at 1Berkshire has worked with a number of food and beverage purveyors to create and brand items to be Census themed. Cocktails, specialty-brewed beers, and food items top the list, while they also hope to get coffee roasteries and others on board. For the months of March and April, and especially for Census Day (April 1st), the goal is to have these items highlighted on menus across the Berkshires to remind folks to complete their Census. As just one example, during this period, you can order yourself a “Census Citron 2020” when visiting The Foundry in West Stockbridge.

As a region, the Berkshires needs to have a complete count of every person residing here. Some estimates suggest that every head counted in the region equates to $27,000 in federal fund allocations to the region over the next 10 years. Alternatively, for each head not counted, that means $27,000 LESS in federal funding. To put that into context, if we miss only 100 people in the census, that equates to a loss of $2,700,000 in federal funding to the region over the next 10 years. 1Berkshire Director of Economic Development, Benjamin Lamb notes “Every body counts, and everybody in the Berkshires needs to be counted in the 2020 Census for us to reach our full potential as a region going forward.”

Businesses already committed to participation in the Census branding of food and beverages include: Berkshire Food Co-Op, Bright Ideas Brewing, Grazie, HiLo, Hotel on North, Methuselah, Prairie Whale, The Foundry West Stockbridge, The Parlor Cafe, Thistle & Mirth, The Airport Rooms at TOURISTS, Tres Ninos, and Village Pizza. So keep your eyes peeled and check out the unique census-inspired items as you enjoy yourself over a coffee, bite or beverage in the next 2 months. 1Berkshire hopes that even more businesses will take the lead of their peers and also name items on their specials and menus temporarily around the 2020 Census to reach every corner, and every person here in the Berkshires.

About 1Berkshire
1Berkshire is a county-wide organization focused on economic development and promotion of the region as a preferred place to visit, to live, and to grow a business. It provides programs that connect businesses with each other and with potential customers, as well as works to develop future leaders and support entrepreneurs. For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.