Issue #71 | Friday, April 14, 2023

North County Happenings

>>Monthly Events<<

Every First Saturday | 9-1 p.m. | North Adams INDOOR Market at Terra Nova

Every Friday | 8-close | Karaoke at State Street Tavern
Every 1st & 3rd Sunday | 7 p.m. | Karaoke Night at The Log in Williamstown
Every Friday | 6-8 p.m. | Common Craft Night at Common Folk
Every Friday | 4 p.m. | Bingo at North Adams Elks Lodge
Every Other Wednesday | 6 p.m. | Trivia at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. | Live DJ Lounge at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every 2nd Monday of the Month | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Free Pregnancy Loss Support Group | Movement Matters Healing Arts

Upcoming

April 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Comedy at Bounti Fare Restaurant
April 15 | Slow Art Day | MASS MoCA and Williams College Museum of Art
April 15 | 8 p.m. | Live Comedy at Bright Ideas Brewing
April 15 | 7 p.m. | Peter Case at the North Adams Elk’s Lodge
April 15 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | MCLA Spring Day of Service | MCLA Quad
April 15 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Berkshire Babypalooza | Greylock Works
April 16 | 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Mini Maker Market at Greylock Works
April 17 | 7 p.m. | Moxie Monday at Greylock Works | Sandy Bailey
April 20 | 9:30 a.m. | Health Equity and Community Development Training | Mel King Institute
April 22 | Linda Sikora: DARKENING GROUND | Exhibition Opening at Ferrin Contemporary
April 26 | 7-9 p.m. | Your Vision in Action | Psychodrama Session at Anahata Schoolhouse
April 27 | 5-7 p.m. | Assets for Artists Open Studios 
April 28 | 6 p.m. | Wine & Beer Tasting at Bounti Fare Restaurant
April 28 | 8 p.m. | Ravyn Lenae at MASS MoCA
April 29 | 11 a.m. | 9th Annual Live Out Loud Conference | MCLA
April 29 | Healthy Kids Day at Northern Berkshire YMCA

May 6 | Opening of Greylock Yoga at Greylock Works

May 6 | 7 p.m. | Rising Glass Brewing Fundraiser Dinner/Party | Historic Beaver Mill

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

Funding Opportunities

Independent Movie Theater Grant Program

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $3,000,000 available to support movie theaters in the Commonwealth negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program targets movie theaters in the Commonwealth that: (a) have had not less than $15,000 in box office ticket sales in calendar year 2019, (b) have experienced a decline in box office sales between calendar year 2019 and subsequent years, or portions thereof, of 40 percent or more: (c) be physically located in the Commonwealth; and (d) have no current tax liens on record with the department of revenue at the time of application.

Priority shall be given to applicants with 4 screens or fewer and those headquartered in Massachusetts. 

Eligible applicants shall receive $15,000 per screen for each of the first 2 screens at a particular location and $10,000 per each additional screen at a particular location. 

This project is being supported by federal award number SLFRP1025 awarded to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. These funds were appropriated through the Commonwealth’s FY2023 Economic Development Bill. 

A business and/or business owner will be ineligible for this grant program if they have received a grant from MGCC in 2022 or 2023, with the exception of a grant from Biz-M Power or Empower Digital, including: 

• New Applicant Grant Program 

• Inclusive Grant Program 

• 2023 Inclusive Funding Opportunity

  To download and review full details on the program's rules and eligibility requirements, click here:  Independent Movie Theater Grant Program Overview & Required Documentation

Biz-M-Power Updates

The program has increased the matching grant from a 1:1 match to a 2:1 match. This means businesses receive $2 from MGCC for every $1 raised in crowdfunding. There is approximately $5.8 million in funding still available. This program is open until June 30, 2023. Monthly reviews will be posted on MGCC Biz-M-Power website.

• Apr 17 Grant | Capacity Building Grant for MA artists

• Apr 20 RFP | Office of Juvenile Justice

• Apr 28 Grant | Harpo Foundation

• Apr 30 Prize | Pure Generation Art Prize

• May 10 Grant | Studio Potter Grants for Apprenticeships

• Jul 23 Grant | Martha Boschen Porter Fund

• Aug 1 Grant | Berkshire Taconic Artist Resource Trust (for individuals)

• ongoing Grant | MGCC Digital Capabilities Grant

• ongoing Grant | Hilary Teachout Covid-19 Relief Grant

• ongoing Grant | The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant

• ongoing Grant | Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Grants

• monthly Awesome Foundation Grant

• rolling Adobe Creative Residency Community Fund

• rolling Independent Journalism Grant

• rolling Eyebeam Center for the Future of Journalism

• rolling Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants

• rolling Creative Capital x Skoll x Kickstarter Funds for Asian/Black/Indigenous/Latinx Creators

• rolling A.P.E. Open Call for Project Proposals

• rolling BridgeSong Fund: Emergency Relief for Women, Nonbinary, and Genderqueer Artists of Color

• rolling New England Musicians Relief Fund

• ongoing NEFA Grant Finder List

Workshops & Webinars

Financing Programs for Your Small Business

Tuesday, April 18 | 10:30 a.m.

Almost every small business will face the situation of needing financing at some point.  Whether it is to get started, expand, or even refinance, there are several options available to you.  While the SBA does not make loans directly to small businesses, utilizing local lenders, the SBA guarantees loans to help you get access to the funding you need.

This free workshop, presented by a member of the local SBA team, is designed to help entrepreneurs understand the various SBA lending programs and the benefits of each.  This overview presentation covers:

• SBA 7(a) guaranteed loans

• The SBA 504 Loan Program for capital assets

• SBA Micro Loans  

• SBA Disaster Assistance Loans

• International Trade/Exporting Loans

Legal Considerations for New Business Owners

Tuesday, April 18 | 12 p.m.
This workshop provides a high-level overview of a range of legal issues that entrepreneurs should be aware of when starting a new company.  Attend this workshop to learn how to avoid common mistakes and employ preventative measures that can protect and ensure the success of your new business.  Workshop topics will include:

• Entity formation

• Contract basics

• IP considerations

• Licenses and regulations

Debunking the Myths of Certification
Wednesday, April 19 | 12 p.m.
As an entrepreneur, you will often hear that certification will open doors for growing your business, but certifying your business does not guarantee opportunities. In this session, we will work to debunk the common myths about certification(s) to help you understand if certification is the best option for you and, if so, which would be most the value to add to your marketing toolbox.

In The News

Mass Cultural Council Announces Second Round of Festivals & Projects Funding

At Mass Cultural Council, we believe that festivals and public projects play a vital role in building community and celebrating the vibrant cultural landscape of the Commonwealth. This year, Mass Cultural Council proudly announced 740 recipients of FY23 Festivals & Projects grants, totaling $1,850,000.

The next grant round of Festivals & Projects will support projects, festivals, and/or activities that are publicly available between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. These awards of $2,500* will support outdoor performances, art workshops, public art projects, pop-up markets, small capital projects, art and nature hikes, regional food festivals, cultural celebrations – and more – across the Commonwealth.

Connect with Us!

North Adams Chamber Business Development Team
Marketing: Makayla-Courtney McGeeney
Business: Nico Dery