The 27,181 acres in Pittsfield include many business parks, shopping centers, and industrial sites. Three unique areas are worthy of extra attention as you explore where to start, grow or locate your business.
Construction-ready lots from 1.1 to 16.5 acres with approved zoning and environmental permits are ready for those wanting to build in or relocate to the William Stanley Business Park on Pittsfield’s east side. Several lots have onsite structures with ready-to-build foundations and rail access.
The 52-acre park, where General Electric once built electrical transformers, is ideally suited for assembly and other light manufacturing, life sciences, packaging, product distribution, wholesale, warehousing, data processing and software development.
Already approved for or operating in the William Stanley Business Park site are the Mountain One Financial Center, the Berkshire Innovation Center, and an Eversource solar array.
Special financial incentives of up to $1 million are available from a unique economic development fund for the park. It is in a designated Massachusetts Economic Opportunity Area (EOA) and has a gold rating from the Mass. Biotechnology Council.
Get started with a tour of the William Stanley Business Park by contacting Michael Coakley, the City’s business development manager, at [email protected] or call 413-499-9368.
Take your business to the next level by locating in or becoming a member of the Berkshire Innovation Center, a 22,000+ square foot, $13.8 million facility on Pittsfield’s east side. It enables you to build upon the region’s deep experience in the manufacture of custom materials (e.g., plastics, paper, textiles), life sciences, engineering and the defense industries.
Share cutting-edge rapid prototyping equipment to test ideas before committing to manufacturing. The state-of-the-art facility includes large scale 3D printers for digital anatomy and high-performance materials, Solidworks CAD software with workstations, a wet lab and a planned cleanroom. Companies in the area can elevate their level of precision and analytical power for prototyping.
Classrooms, lecture halls, five conference rooms, and meeting areas foster formal and informal interactions that stimulate creativity and lead to the next big idea. The BIC plans seminars and programs with leading experts, including those from nearby academic institutions, such as UMass, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Colleges of Nanoscale Science & Engineering. In partnership with Berkshire Community College, the center will be a place of teaching and learning, creating a pipeline of trained employees for companies in the area.
The BIC’s collaborative environment brings together design thinkers, entrepreneurs and engineers so that they can have their next “eureka moment.” Incubator and accelerator space are available for those that want to work in the rich, collaborative environment.
The BIC is located in the William Stanley Business Park. For more information, contact Ben Sosne, executive director, at [email protected] or 413-822-0294.
Downtown Pittsfield, the areas around North Street, and nearby Tyler Street are Economic Opportunity Areas that offer incentives in exchange for job growth and private investment that generate sales outside of Massachusetts. The benefits to certified projects can include a negotiated investment tax credit and a local real property tax reduction.
Pittsfield’s historic commercial district is recognized by the State as the “Upstreet Cultural District.” It has been reborn as a destination for small retail shops and services, great theater (e.g., Beacon Cinema, Barrington Stage Company and Colonial Theatre), a stunning 45-room boutique luxury hotel (Hotel on North) and more than 50 restaurants, wine bars and cafes. New luxury rental units include the Onota 74 Residences and the upcoming rennovation of the Wright Building on North Street.
Businesses such as VidMob (read VidMob case study) are expanding on North Street, which adds to the activity downtown. Developers such as Steve Oakes (read Steve Oakes case study) are buying and revitalizing office space to meet the demand.
Downtown Pittsfield also regularly hosts Third Thursdays from May through October, annual events and the year-round First Fridays Artswalk. Learn more about the vibrant art scene in Pittsfield.
Make an appointment with Laura Mick, Community Development Specialist, who can guide you through all of the incentives available to small businesses in the City of Pittsfield. Contact Laura Mick at 413-499-9378 or send an email to [email protected].
Call Us Now.
We’ll Help You Get Started.
Michael Coakley
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
1-413-499-9368
Laura Mick
Community Development Specialist
[email protected]
1-413-499-9378
Amber Spring
Permitting Coordinator
[email protected]
1-413-448-9673