Community involvement

Participating in our community by working with charitable organizations and collaborating with other businesses and economic development agencies is integral to our lives and approach to business. Please see the information below regarding some of the organizations we support and are involved with:

Construct Inc. provides comprehensive housing, support and educational services to anyone in the Southern Berkshire region who has lost his or her home or who lacks adequate financial resources to maintain safe, decent and affordable housing. Terry serves as a member of the board of Construct and is on the finance committee. In addition to providing a $250 matching grant for employee donations to Construct, the RBC Wealth Management Foundation has generously granted $5,000 in each of the last two years to fund essential programming provided by the organization.

Gould Farm is the first residential therapeutic community in the nation dedicated to helping adults with mental illness move toward recovery, health and greater independence through community living, meaningful work and individual care. Terry and his wife Monica have actively supported Gould Farm for many years. Monica serves on the board and is a member of the executive committee.

WiredWest is a community-driven solution to our regional problem of inadequate broadband. They're dedicated to building a community-owned, state of the art, fiber-optic network to serve the last mile in the Berkshires. In addition to providing financial support to WiredWest, Terry’s wife Monica is chairperson of the organization and serves as spokesperson.

The Berkshire Co-Op Market is a cooperatively owned store, which offers healthy natural alternatives, and serves both members and the public. They sell abundant local organic produce and groceries in a farmer's market atmosphere.

The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center has a mission to be the leading year-round presenter of performing arts, film, and educational programs for the Southern Berkshires and neighboring communities. Through programs of the highest quality in dance, music, theatre and opera, they ensure a diversity of talent on the stage of their newly restored historic theater. The goal of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is to present available programs that appeal to all ages and interests. We are an active sponsor and participant in events at the Mahaiwe. We also provide parking for school buses when they host events for local educational programs.

Berkshire South Regional Community Center has a mission to build a sense of community and common purpose throughout the region, and to enhance the recreational, educational, cultural, health and social well-being of the residents of the Southern Berkshires.

For many years we have provided sponsorship to Berkshire South and feel it plays a vital role in drawing our community together.

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Local businesses and projects of interest

While there continues to be considerable concern regarding the state of the local and national economy, there are many signs of sustainable recovery and dynamic growth potential in the Berkshires. We have highlighted some projects of interest below:

Iredale Mineral Cosmetics – Bryant School Project: This project will reuse an historic local building to create class A office space enabling IMC to hire 50-60 new employees over the next several years. This will add to Great Barrington’s population and tax base.

Great Barrington Downtown Reconstruction Project: The $4.2 million Main Street Reconstruction Project is designed to repair and replace failing pavement, drainage and utilities due to aging infrastructure. It will also address issues related to traffic and pedestrian safety and result in general improvements to the downtown corridor. The funding for this project comes primarily from the Massachusetts department of transportation.

Monument Mills Redevelopment – Housatonic: Predominantly vacant and unused for the last 50 years, the possible redevelopment/reuse of the Monument Mills is an exciting economic development opportunity for the Berkshires.

Hear our views live on the radio: Terry is a quarterly guest on the WSBS radio program "Let's Talk" hosted by State Representative Smitty Pignatelli. For a lively discussion on local developments and economic events, please tune in Friday mornings at 9:00 am at 860AM/94.1FM or listen streaming live at www.wsbs.com (dates will be posted under the seminars and events tab).