Start Your Business In Pittsfield

Turn your dream into reality. Starting your business in Pittsfield is easier than ever with a variety of resources available to businesses of all sizes. Whether you plan to start a retail establishment, a startup firm, or a new advanced manufacturing company, Pittsfield has the expertise to help you get started.

Free Business Advice
Financial Assistance
Permits and Location
Networking and Education

Download Our Pittsfield Business Guide

“They believe in me. They’re supporting me. They’re encouraging me. It’s amazing. I can’t thank them enough.”

– Kacey Boos

Shire Acupuncture

Read Casey′s Case Study

Free Business Advice

The first step for any new business is to test your idea and to create a business plan. Pittsfield has free programs to help you.

EforAll Pitch Competition
Present your idea and get immediate feedback at a free, fast-paced, fun community event sponsored by EforAll of Berkshire County. EforAll stands for Entrepreneurship for All. The program is well-known for its inclusive approach, especially among women, minorities and the economically disadvantaged.

The EforAll Pitch Contest will help validate your business idea, meet other entrepreneurs and have a chance to win a cash prize for your business. The contests are open to anyone with a business idea, looking to take a hobby to the next level or looking to change and grow an existing business.

Selected entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present for 2-1/2 minutes to an audience including a group of judges and also set up a table to showcase their product/service. To make it easy for first-time presenters, Pitch Contest Workshops will help presenters craft their pitch. Apply at EforAll Pitch Contests.
EforAll Business Accelerator
If you are a first-time business owner or want to improve your skills, the free EforAll Business Accelerator program is offered twice a year. Participants begin with 12 weeks of business training with instruction on how to build a business. It is followed by a full year of mentorship and access to an extended professional network. Anyone with a dream to start or grow a business or nonprofit is encouraged to apply.

The program is a proven model that has launched more than 350 startups. It is well-known for its inclusive approach among women, minorities and the economically disadvantaged.
Free One-to-One Business Advice
Free, confidential, one-to-one business assistance and low-cost educational training programs are available in Pittsfield from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Network Berkshire Regional Office. They provide assistance to individuals contemplating a new business venture and those with an existing, expanding business. Areas of assistance include:

• Start-up Business Assistance
• Business Plan Development
• Financial Plan Development
• Marketing and Sales Strategies
• Cash Flow Analysis
• Organizational and Personnel Issues

If you are seeking financial incentives from the City of Pittsfield, the Small Business Development Network can help you create a business plan. It does not have to be long or complicated. It will be your roadmap for building your business and will explain to others what you plan to do. A business plan is usually essential before you can receive external financing.

Complete the Request for Counseling Form to make an appointment. The assistance is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Massachusetts Office of Business Development under a cooperative agreement through the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Isenberg School of Management.

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“I didn’t realize all of the resources that are available in Pittsfield for small businesses to tap into . . . I can’t stress enough that (they) want to help. ”

– Tami Sime

TEC Staffing Services

Read Tami′s Case Study

Financial Assistance

Make an appointment with Brandon Gill, Community Development Specialist, who can guide you through all of the incentives available to small businesses in the City of Pittsfield. His expertise lies in connecting you to the best available resources for your business.

Our financial resources make Pittsfield an especially inviting place to start your business. Some of our grants and loans are not available anywhere else in the state. The $500,000 Pittsfield Small Business Fund and resources from the Pittsfield Economic Redevelopment Corporation (PERC) stem from Pittsfield Economic Development Fund (formerly known as the GE Economic Development Fund) and are available to help you.

Mr. Gill may combine funds from multiple programs to obtain the assistance you need. Each program has its own requirements and Mr. Gill will help you. Contact Brandon Gill at 413-499-9378 or send an email to [email protected].

Here are some of the programs that may be available to you:

Technical Assistance Grants
This program provides grants for specialized technical assistance for individuals developing small and micro businesses in Pittsfield. It offers matching grants to be used for professional services including accounting, bookkeeping, business consulting and marketing. This program is designed to provide funding to businesses unable to obtain funding in the private market. The program is funded by the City of Pittsfield through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and is administered by PERC.
Micro-Loans
The Community Development Micro-Loan Program provides loans up to $15,000 to microenterprise businesses owned by low- to moderate-income residents of Pittsfield. These loans can be used for the purchase of fixed assets, equipment, inventory and/or working capital needs. Up to 95% of project costs can be funded at reasonable interest rates. The program is funded by the City of Pittsfield through its Community Development Block Grant and administered by PERC.
Small Business Loan Program
Loans are for construction or acquisition of fixed assets and/or working capital. The maximum loan is $100,000, but may not exceed 40% of the financing package. The project must result in the addition or retention of jobs for low-income and moderate-income citizens. These loans are offered as “Companion Loans” in conjunction with other public programs and/or private financing. The program is funded by the City of Pittsfield through its Community Development Block Grant and administered by PERC.
Economic Opportunity Area Tax Incentives
Tax incentives are available for qualifying businesses in Pittsfield’s two approved Economic Opportunity Areas in exchange for job growth and private investment that generate sales outside of Massachusetts. These areas are along the City’s downtown and Tyler Street neighborhoods. The benefits to certified projects can include a negotiated investment tax credit, a vacant building tax deduction and a local real property tax reduction.

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““Yeah, (the city) really turned our business around. It literally would not have happened without the PERC grant.”

– Auric Enchill

Elegant Stitches

Read Auric′s Case Study

Permits

Make an appointment with Amber Spring, Community Development Specialist, who can guide you through all of the permitting requirements in the City of Pittsfield. Her expertise lies in identifying what you need to do to get your business up-and-running quickly.

You can reach Amber Spring at 413-448-9673 or at [email protected].

Identify Your Location
Your first step is to understand your business needs and then to find a potential location for your business that meets those needs. You can get free advice from EforAll or the Massachusetts Small Business Development Network Berkshire Regional Office. Many commercial real estate professionals will work with you to identify available locations that can meet your budget. Search for a professional on-line or contact 1Berkshire for recommendations.
Zoning Requirements
Finding a suitable location usually starts with a preliminary zoning review to ensure that the business you propose can operate in the proposed location. The City’s zoning ordinances state the types of businesses that are allowed in each specific location. For example, factories are generally not located in residential areas as it could hurt the quality of life of the people already living there.

Amber Spring can provide personalized advice and will help you to understand what rules apply to your business and your location. You can reach Amber at 413-448-9673 or at [email protected].

If your use is permitted under the zoning ordinances, your use is considered “by right,” which means you have the right to conduct that use in that zone. You can go to the next step for a business certificate. If not, you will either need a “site plan review” or a “special permit” from one of the City’s two land use boards. Nate can help start that process.

If you want to review your location before meeting Amber, you can download a copy of Pittsfield’s zoning map or look-up the zoning for a particular location using the interactive map. (To use the interactive map, insert the address in the “property quick search” box on the top right of the map page. Click the property, and a detailed “property card” with the zoning district details will appear.)
Business Certificate
With the zoning review complete, you are now ready to apply for a Business Certificate. The application form is quite simple. It primarily requires that you enter the name of the business, its location and the names of the business owners. Bring the form to the City Clerk’s office with a small filing fee. Details can be found on the City’s Business Certificate web page.

If you have a “by right” zoning use and are not changing your existing building, you can ask for a “building walkthrough” with a City inspector. The purpose is to identify any basic issues that you may have to address to meet the building code and get a Certificate of Occupancy. Items that will be reviewed include accessibility, the number of restrooms and parking. Even if you are not planning to make changes to your location, it is a good idea to schedule this review in order to reduce potential surprises later.
Licenses and Special Permits
Certain types of businesses will require additional licenses or permits before a Building Permit will be issued. Most businesses in the City do not require licenses or special permits. However, it is a good idea to check the list to be sure. Most licenses and special permits are issued by the following groups:

Licensing Board: The City’s Licensing Board issues more than two dozen types of licenses. You can see if your business is one of them by reviewing the list of Types of Licenses issued by the License Board. There are also special requirements for the sale of alcoholic beverages. The process for applying can be found on the Licensing Board web page.

Health Department: The City’s Health Department issues permits for various types of businesses to ensure compliance with state and local sanitary codes. Any place that serves food or tobacco products must get a Health Department permit. See the Health Department page for a more complete list of the services requiring a Health Department permit. In certain cases the Health Department will participate in the Building Permit plan review before any construction is done.

Engineering Division: If you are planning to connect to any City utilities, interfere with the operation of a City street or right of way or make a change to land involving more than a half-acre, you will need to contact the City’s Engineering Division.

Conservation Commission: The Conservation Commission is charged with enforcing the State’s Wetland Protection Act and reviews land use before a building permit can be issued. Protection is afforded to most all lands within: 100 feet of any streams, creeks, lakes, ponds, wet meadows, marshes, fens, swamps, and/or bogs; 200 feet of a perennial river; or 100-year (FEMA Zone A) floodplains.
Building Permit
If you are building a new building or planning to modify the use of your commercial or industrial space, it is a good idea to hire a contractor, architect, surveyor or other design professional licensed by the state of Massachusetts to make sure that you will meet the building code requirements. Using a licensed professional is typically the best way to minimize the potential concerns of the Building Department.

Once your professional develops your plan, it is submitted to the City’s Building Department for review.

Once the approval(s) are received, a Building Permit will be issued and construction may begin.
Certificate of Occupancy
After the construction or modifications are complete, a Building Inspector will visit to make sure that the work conforms to the approved plan. The Fire Department will also want to review the final construction to make sure that the building meets fire codes. If a Health Department permit was required, that department will want to inspect the construction to ensure that the work was done correctly.

Once all the reviews are completed and approved, a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued and your business can begin.

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“There are a lot of resources available to grow in Pittsfield and many of them are free.”

– Scott Kirchner

MadMacs

Read Scott′s Case Study

Networking and Education

If you wish to go beyond the mentoring and seminars available from EforAll, there are a number free and low cost programs available:

1Berkshire
1Berkshire, a nonprofit membership organization, is the official Regional Economic Development Organization and Regional Tourism Council of Berkshire County. They have low cost and free programs to assist those starting a business:

The 1Berkshire and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) Business Bootcamp is an educational program that provides attendees with a basic understanding of the essential elements involved in successfully starting and growing a business venture. Workshops cover a progressive range of topics including Design Thinking, Accounting, Creating a Go-to-Market Strategy and Funding/Capital.

The free Entrepreneurial Meetups are great for building a business network and learning from other business owners. These events bring entrepreneurs together once a month to connect over coffee or drinks.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.
For businesses locating in the downtown Pittsfield area, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. provides networking opportunities and advocacy. It is a way for businesses and non-profits to work together for common goals and to promote downtown as a great place to live, work, and play. It works in partnership with the various city departments that has led to major streetscape projects, parking improvements, and marketing initiatives.
Berkshire Community College
Berkshire Community College, located in Pittsfield, offers both credit and non-credit educational programs. Business owners may look to improve their skills in accounting or marketing through credit or non-credit coursework or arrange for on-site education and training for their employees. BCC offers general business classes as well as courses that will improve skills in reading, writing, and analytical thinking. Employers and employees can take single courses or enroll in a degree or certificate program.

The credit courses parallel those that one might find during the freshman and sophomore years of business studies at a four-year college. BCC students transfer to public and private universities to complete their Bachelor’s degrees in any number of disciplines.

Because BCC is small and community-based, it is optimally positioned to work with business owners to customize programs for themselves or their employees.

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Call Us Now.

We’ll Help You Get Started.

Michael Coakley
Business Development Manager
[email protected]
1-413-499-9368

Brandon Gill
Community Development Specialist
[email protected]
1-413-499-9378

Amber Spring
Permitting Coordinator
[email protected]
1-413-448-9673