Berkshire Blueprint 2.0

A Shared Economic Vision and Plan for Action

The Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 is the product of nearly 2 years of intensive research, interviews, and planning. This work, coordinated by 1Berkshire, and supported by a rich regional coalition, launched a strategic imperative and program with the goal of sustained economic development across the region.

Launched in February 2019, the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 utilizes a cluster-based model to functionally address the needs, and helps to track and benchmark intentional work, in 6 central industrial clusters. These clusters, each facilitated by a partner Hub, include Advanced Manufacturing and Digital Enterprise, Creative Economy and Culture, Food and Agriculture, Health and Wellness, Hospitality and Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation.

These clusters, compounded with a set of cross-cutting themes that impact everyone across the region, the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 Advisory Board, Cluster Hub Leadership, and the team at 1Berkshire, continue to provide resources, implementation support, and benchmarking to activate the goals and objectives of the Blueprint over time. By design, this implementation model allows for structured systems, additional cluster inclusion, refreshed cross-cutting themes, and an agile approach to provide sustained and high impact economic development for the entirety of Berkshire County.

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Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 – Five Year Benchmark

The Benchmark Report

This half-way report at the 5-year mark of the Blueprint provided additional narrative storytelling, updates on efforts taken since the Blueprint’s inception, and updated layers of need, opportunity, and challenge that are now considered part of the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 for the remainder of its 10-year planned outlay.

We are halfway through the Blueprint 2.0’s expected life; let’s see where we are, and navigate where to go next, together.

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The Presentation

On May 30, 2024, at the Berkshire Innovation Center, the community came together to release the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 – Five Year Benchmark report.

During the event, 1Berkshire and partners shared updates, stories, emergent opportunities, and a vision for the collective ongoing work to achieve the goals set forth by the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0.

Industry Clusters

Advanced Manufacturing & Digital Enterprise

This cluster brings in over $900,000,000 of Gross Regional Product and pays some of the highest average wages in the Berkshires. Find out about how this industry functions and what is next.

Creative Economy & Culture

The creative economy is one of the fastest growing major industries in the Berkshires. From performing and visual arts, to the maker movement and microbreweries, learn more about the impact of the creative economy and how you can get involved.

Food & Agriculture

A historic and driving economic force in the region, this cluster employs almost 9,000 and has seen nearly 10% job growth since 2010. Find out more about this industry, its current initiatives, and future opportunities to get involved.

Health & Wellness

With some of the highest job concentration in the county, and employing over 11,000 people, Heathcare is a significant industrial cluster in the Berkshires. Learn more about how this industry is critical to our regional economy.

Hospitality & Tourism

The Berkshires are world renown for hospitality and tourism. Travelers from all over support our businesses, institutions, and workforce. Learn more about this critical industry to our regional economy and how you can get involved.

Outdoor Recreation

Formally recognized as a primary economic cluster in 2021, the Berkshires’ Outdoor Recreation sector has rapidly evolved from a longstanding local amenity to a major regional economic catalyst, fueled by more than $100 million in recent investments and rising visibility. With expanding facilities, diverse recreational assets, and a maturing outdoor culture, the cluster is now generating significant job growth, skill development, and broad economic impact.