For additional information, please contact:
Benjamin Lamb
1Berkshire Director of Economic Development
blamb@1berkshire.com
518-312-6363
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1Berkshire Partners with North Adams Chamber of Commerce and proAdams for “Pop Up, North Berkshire” Summer Business Pilot
May 24, 2022 – Berkshire County, MA – 1Berkshire in partnership with the North Adams Chamber of Commerce and proAdams is excited to announce the launch of the Pop Up, North Berkshire program heading into Summer 2022. This program, funded through a one-time grant award from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, will support and supplement the establishment of up to 4 pop up businesses between the downtowns in the Town of Adams and the City of North Adams from July through September.
By providing an injection of capital, along with high touch technical assistance and permit navigation, this collaboration of agencies will give pop-up businesses the best opportunity to become established and test their offering in the local market, with the potential for more permanent operations following the summer.
To date, three of the four businesses have been selected and are in the process of getting ready for summer operations, these include:
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WallaSauce – North Adams – Owned and operated by Sarah DeFusco and Kirby Casteel, WallaSauce is a familiar name in and around the region as a locally produced streetwear brand focused on minimizing waste while simultaneously exploring self-expression through clothing, merchandise, and creative thinking. They will be opening a retail storefront in the City to both sell their products and produce their items in a prominent downtown space.
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The Adams Incubator – Adams – Owned and operated by Yina Moore, The Adams Incubator is a conceptual co-working, art retail, and small event venue that will pair with the redevelopment of the Adams Theater. By providing a coworking space in the heart of downtown Adams, the Adams Incubator will offer an array of amenities to individuals seeking an office, a space to innovate, and a community of professionals, while also putting on dynamic programming.
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Secret Sun Tanning Salon – Adams – Owned and operated by Jason Nocher, Secret Sun Tanning Salon will inject new life into an updated downtown space offering tanning options to the local market, filling a gap that has been identified over the last several years. By creating another service offering on a main downtown corridor, Secret Sun will help draw increased and new traffic and customers to the area.
An additional forth business will be identified and supported for opening in North Adams in the coming weeks.
Benjamin Lamb, 1Berkshire Director of Economic Development noted “in downtowns across the country, the establishment of pop up business communities to improve tenancy, and create a critical mass of offerings, has become a high impact best practice. We are excited to be piloting this type of injection of activity and commerce to the area this summer and are thankful to have such supportive collaborators in the effort with the North Adams Chamber and proAdams.”
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 and works to develop future leaders and support entrepreneurs. For more information, visit 1Berkshire.com.
About North Adams Chamber of Commerce
The North Adams Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization that promotes and advances the economic, civic, and social vibrancy of North Adams and broader Northern Berkshire community. Through communication, collaboration and programming, the Chamber works with an array of educational, professional, cultural, and elected leaders to support, inform, and advocate for the business and civic community of the region.
About proAdams
ProAdams is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by a group of Adams residents committed to promoting and honoring the quality and character of Adams, focused on sparking economic and community growth, and invested in driving creative vibrancy across the town. For more information, visit https://exploreadams.com/
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