For additional information, please contact:
Benjamin Lamb
1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development
blamb@1berkshire.
518-312-6363
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1Berkshire Presents Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 Five Year Benchmark Report
June 6th, 2024 – Berkshire County, MA – 1Berkshire, the Regional Economic Development Organization and Marketing and Tourism Organization for the 32 cities and towns of Berkshire County, is excited to share the most recent update and information related to the ongoing work of the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0. Now in its fifth year, the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 is the region’s collective economic development imperative. As a means to benchmark the work that has happened, the needs that have emerged, and the opportunities and vision going forward, 1Berkshire hosted the Five-Year Benchmark event at the Berkshire Innovation Center on May 30th. With 150 regional partners, stakeholders and passionate community members in attendance 1Berkshire’s President and CEO Jonathan Butler and Vice President of Economic Development Ben Lamb provided an overview of high-level activity that has occurred across the region, and laid out the path for the next five years of the Blueprint’s life.
1Berkshire was joined by spotlight presentations from high-impact organizations and programs, including Allison Schmitt of EforAll Berkshire County, Dubois Thomas and John Lewis of the Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation, and a video produced about Steve Sears and Maria Cruz’s work with the Stationery Factory. The combination of activity sharing, reflection, and storytelling aimed to engage and re engage the community with the scaffolding that the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 offers as an asset to the region.
Following the event, attendees were provided hard copies of the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 Five Year Benchmark Report, an addendum to the original Blueprint that focuses on showcasing activity and acknowledging space for future work. Additionally, a recording of the full event is available on the 1Berkshire Youtube Channel found at https://www.youtube.com/
1Berkshire Vice President of Economic Development Benjamin Lamb notes that “As the stewards of the Berkshire Blueprint, we believe the midpoint in the Blueprint’s intended lifespan is a prime opportunity for the Berkshires to commit and recommit to our collective future, our individual investments, and our regional potential going forward.”
To learn more about the Berkshire Blueprint, its related documents and addenda, and to be a part of the future work related to this regional imperative, please visit https://1berkshire.com/
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.