Berkshire Regional

( BRPC ), which oversees Berkshire County ’ s federally designated Economic Development District , recently completed a long-term economic planning process called the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy ( CEDS ). The BRPC staff and a volunteer steering committee held listening sessions , conducted one-on-one interviews , distributed surveys , and spoke with local boards and committees to inform a SWOT analysis ( Strengths , Weaknesses , Opportunities , and Threats ) of the Berkshires ’ economic situation . This led to a just-released action plan for pursuing goals and strategies appropriate to our region ’ s unique assets and abilities .

This thorough process occurred simultaneously with BRPC ’ s active pandemic response . To support the region ’ s resilience , we fostered recovery projects , improved our ability to track regional indicators with the launch of berkshirebenchmarks . org , and provided technical assistance and capacity building support to a wide range of small businesses and nonprofits in partnership with 1Berkshire and the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires .

The combination of longterm planning and in-themoment implementation provided a unique opportunity to put into practice some of the recommendations found within our region ’ s newest economic roadmap , even before it was published . We are emerging with a field-tested confidence in our ability to collaborate in meaningful , impactful ways .

The CEDS provides five goals as a framework for prioritizing economic development efforts in the region over the next five years :

◗ 1 . Healthy People Foster the well-being of all residents by ensuring affordable and equitable access to food , housing , education , and healthcare .

◗ 2 . Resilient Communities Equip our municipalities to serve their constituents , steward resources , and manage governance effectively .

◗ 3 . Future-Ready Workforce Prepare our workforce through a lifespan approach to education , training , upskilling , and career versatility .

◗ 4 . Strong Business Environment Provide a streamlined ecosystem of support for a diverse range of businesses through access to

capital , technical assistance , and opportunities for expansion .

◗ 5 . Robust Infrastructure Prioritize improvements to critical elements of economic prosperity and resilience , including transportation , utilities , and communications .

While resiliency-building strategies are woven throughout the CEDS , the economic disruption caused by the pandemic prompted in-depth research and analysis of current conditions and best practices . This timely opportunity resulted in a distinct and more robust Resiliency Chapter within the 2023-2027 CEDS , a deeper dive into steady-state and responsive strategies to avoid , withstand , and recover from future economic disruptions , whether they come in the form of public health crises , national and global market shifts , or natural disasters .

The new CEDS also identifies nearly 50 “ Priority Projects ,” all of which stand to have a substantial impact on our region if brought to completion . Categories include Food Access & Security ( e . g ., BNRC ’ s Farmland Access and Conservation efforts countywide ); Housing ( e . g ., CDC of South Berkshire ’ s Berkshire Cottages project on Bridge

Street in Great Barrington ); Tourism , Hospitality & Outdoor Recreation ( e . g ., Adventure Trail design and engineering in North Adams ); Municipal & Public Safety Facilities ( e . g ., the Columbus Ave / Summer Street Parking Garage in Pittsfield ); Programs & Services ( e . g ., Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires ’ facility expansion from Great Barrington into Pittsfield ); Mixed Use & Commercial Site Redevelopment ( e . g ., Greylock Mill Redevelopment in Lee ); and Workforce & Industry Support ( e . g ., Berkshire Innovation Center ’ s “ 2.0 ” expansion into northern and southern Berkshire County ).

The CEDS Committee will track progress on each Priority Project , adding or subtracting entries as projects are completed or new regionally impactful project proposals arise . Each summer , a call for updates and new submissions draws our attention to private investment and public-private partnership efforts designed to improve the economic well-being of our residents and businesses . Annual performance reports offer BRPC the opportunity to share this progress with staff at the federal Economic Development Administration and advocate for government funding . While

48 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Spring 2023