Issue #65 | Friday, February 24, 2023

FIRST Friday transforms into FIRST Bites for March in North Adams

During the month of March, FIRST Friday presents “FIRST Bites” encouraging visitors to show their support for downtown restaurants and businesses by eating out. People can pick up a free “FIRST Bites” button at Gallery 51 on March 3 and then frequent downtown restaurants.

Participating downtown restaurants will be offering “FIRST Bites” specials to folks who are wearing their buttons.

Participating Restaurants

Jacks Hot Dogs | 12 Eagle Street
$1 Hot Dogs!

Christos Famous Pizza | 20 Holden Street
Appetizers as well as some of our new menu items such as falafel, grape leaves, and grilled pita with hummus.

Baily’s Bakery | 55 Main Street
Special TBD!

More restaurants to be added. Visit nachamber.org/firstfridays for the complete list.

Events

Gallery 51 | 5-7 pm | 51 Main Street
Opening reception for Layer/Build: Collage Explored, a group exhibition featuring the work of six collage artists.

Future Lab[s] Gallery | 5-8pm | 43 Eagle Street
Opening Reception for UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTERS, by artists Anna Vojtech and Maria Denjongpa. See the worlds of beauty conjured from their wide travels and spiritual journeys.

Hearts Pace Tea & Healing Lounge | 6-9pm | 15 Eagle Street
Live music and mocktails; no cover.

Common Folk Artist Collective | 6-8pm | 12 Holden Street
Join Common Folk for a reception of their current exhibition, Kith and Kinfolk, Craft Night, and paper flower making.

Installation Space | 7-10pm | 49 Eagle Street
Dance party fundraiser with DJ DUBTC from to purchase new equipment; pay what you can.

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 2nd Saturday | 8 p.m. | Comedy Night at Bright Ideas Brewing
January-March | Free Admission to The Clark Art Institute

Common Folk Artist Collective
Every Friday | 6-8 p.m. | Common Craft Night
Every 2nd Sunday | 3-5 p.m. | Adams Artist Meet-up | 57 Park Street in Adams

Upcoming

February 25 | Ivy Sole at MASS MoCA
February 26 | 6:15 p.m. | Relaxation Yoga at North Adams Yoga
February 27 | 6 p.m. | Hardman Journalist in Residence at MCLA
February 28 | 4-5:30 p.m. | 1Berkshire Entrepreneurial Meetup at Hot Plate Brewing
March 2 | 8 p.m. | Drag Bingo at Tourists
March 3 | 5 p.m. | Future Lab[s] Gallery Reception | Artists Anna Vojtech and Maria Denjongpa
March 3 | 7 p.m. | Installation Space Dance Party Fundraiser
March 11 | 6 p.m. | The Roots Teen Fundraiser
March 31 | 11 a.m. | Cultural Sector Recovery Grants Celebration | Clark Art | Mass Cultural Council

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

Saturday, March 11, 2023
8:00pm - 12:30am | North Adams Elks Lodge

Book your tickets here

Tickets range from $0 - $50, with a standard ticket costing $15. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. 

Please consider sharing our Facebook Event and Instagram posts as well.

This event is being produced by several LGBTQIA+ people, and we want all of our ally friends to attend. This event is truly for everyone. Please join us and help support North Adams Pride!

About the performers: 

Drag performers Veronika Baked, Jackie Leggs, and Miss Ginger Souless will tease and tantalize us with their shimmer and sass; Milz 007 and Mz. October May Lay of the New England Ballroom scene will peel back the curtain on their world of ballroom culture and all night long we'll dance to the hot beats thrown down by acclaimed Berkshire DJ BFG. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations will be available for purchase at the Elks bar.

See you out under the Northern Lights!

Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund Apprenticeship Application for Summer 2023

The Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF) seeks to cultivate and inspire the next generation of food and agriculture leaders by sponsoring one-month apprenticeships on farms similar to those that Anne engaged in during her early 20’s. Participants will work full-time with a farm/production team for a 30-day immersive experience. Most apprenticeships take place during the months of July or August. 

Apply by March 15th

Funding Opportunities

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.

Best Foot Forward Facade Improvement Micro-Grants
Deadline: Applications are now open and grants will be awarded until funding is exhausted.
Apply HERE

Do you operate a first floor business?
Does your facade need updating?
Would an update improve the aesthetics of our downtown commercial district?

If you answered "YES" to these questions, help is here! 1Berkshire is accepting applications for their Best Foot Forward Facade Improvement Micro-Grants. A minimum of 47 grants of between $500-$1000 will be made available on a rolling basis to small businesses and organizations with first-floor store fronts. A maximum of $7,000 in awards will be made within any specific municipality. Priority will be given to businesses who did not receive facade improvement grants in 2022.

Community Sub-Award Application: "Insert Here" Vacant Window Art Pilot Program

1Berkshire, thanks to a one-time grant award, is excited to announce the opportunity for up to three (3) sub-award grants to communities, community organizations or individuals in Berkshire County municipalities to support the commissioning and installation of high visibility vinyl window art pieces in vacant storefront windows of downtown commercial buildings available for rent. Only one sub-award grant can be made in any single municipality, and a letter of support from the municipality is required for consideration (NOTE: municipalities should only provide one (1) organization/individual letter of support for this program to prevent redundant applications within any individual community).

Organizations that apply may be municipalities, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, or unofficial organizations/individuals with a proven track record of project execution of this type and scale. Sub-awardee grants will be at least $5,000 each, and all work (i.e. selection of artist/art, production of vinyls, installation, etc.) must be completed by June 30th, 2023. Up to 10% of the sub-awardee grant may be utilized for administrative expenses associated with the coordination of the project. Reporting of all expenses and photos of final installations are required to be submitted by the June 30th, 2023 deadline. Failure to do so will result in the sub-awardee returning the full amount of funding back to 1Berkshire.

The Deadline to apply for this opportunity is March 3rd, 2023 and decisions will be made on awards by March 10th, 2023. Grant decisions will be based on a thorough review of all responses to this application.

Grants for Artists

• Feb 28 Grant | MGCC x Patronicity Biz-M-Power Grant

• Mar 1 Grant | NEFA New England States Touring Grant

• Mar 3 Grant/Submission | 1Berkshire “Insert Here” Vacant Window Art Installation

• Mar 6 Scholarship | National Sculpture Society Laura Ziegler Scholarship

• Mar 8 Grant | NEA Grant for Creative Writing

• Mar 15 Grant | Assets for Artists Capacity Building Grant for Pittsfield Artists

• Mar 31 Award | 2023 Nervous Ghost Press Book Prize

• Mar 31 Grant | Creative Capital Wild Futures Grant (app opens Mar 1)

• 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
  
  Provided by the Artist Impact Coalition

  Financial Opportunities from the Berkshire Black Economic Council
  

  FOR NEW ENGLAND BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES: 

  Power Forward Small Business grant (rolling deadline)

  FOR NEW ENGLAND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES: 

  MBDA Small Business Center’s Covid-19 Relief

  FOR MASSACHUSETTS BLACK- OR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES: 

  Mass Mutual Catalyst Fund (MMCF)

  FOR WESTERN MA WOMEN, NONBINARY, AND GENDERQUEER ARTISTS OF COLOR:

  BridgeSong Fund Emergency Relief

The Empower Digital Grant Program has modified its grant terms to include additional funding (up to $5000) for capital expenses that can help small businesses to expand or improve their digital capabilities. As a result, applicants may pursue up to $5000 of grant funding for digital services and $5000 of grant funding for relevant capital expenses.

Workshops & Webinars

February 28 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Business Plan Basics
March 1 | 12-1 p.m. | Monetizing Your Gifts
March 14 | 1:30-2:30 p.m. | 8 Customer Retention Tips for Small Businesses

Connect with Us!

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