Issue #70 | Friday, April 7, 2023

FIRST Friday Happenings

-The First Baptist Youth Group will lead a trash pick-up crew around downtown. If you are willing to help, meet them under the Mohawk marquee at 5:00pm.

-Second Chance Composting truck will be parked under the Mohawk marquee collecting bagged leaves and household food scraps for compost, 4:00-8:00pm! All food scraps must be free of stickers, no plastic bags accepted!

-A City of North Adams recycling truck will be parked under the Mohawk marquee collecting household aluminum/glass/plastic recycling from 4:00-8:00pm! The city will also have its seasonal trash and recycling bins put up around downtown early this year, in time for First Friday.

Gallery, Shop, & Restaurant events:

-INSTALLATION SPACE: Spectral Strata On View 4:00pm - 8:00pm! 49 Eagle Street.

-Gallery 51: Layer/Build: Collage Explored On View 11:00am-7:00pm! 51 Main Street AND Venus Spectra On View in the windows of the MAC Arts Lab.

-Gravity Gallery: Center of Gravity Artist Residency, a new project of Walkaway House, features artists Jacob Grumulaitis (Brooklyn, NY) at the Gravity Gallery 5-8pm! 44 Eagle Street.

-Future Lab[s] Gallery: Opening Reception 6-8pm! Presenting work by Bo Petran and Anna Salmeron. Take part in an interactive ad campaign photo shoot for the new perfume ArtTown. All are invited, styling and makeup provided! 45 Eagle Street.

-Savvy Hive will host a pop up with The Emerald Phoenix from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Come learn about Tina’s sustainable wellness products. Her products range from herbal tinctures, pain relief, oils, bath soaks, and more. 53 Main Street.

-Plant Connector will be hosting a return of their smash-hit ‘hissing booth’ featuring slithering species for the school-age set and The Hoosic River revival is also hosting a fête. 73 Main Street.

-Alison Pebworth’s Studio and Project Space: Alethea Morrison’s Kindness Dispensary will debut at Alison Pebworth’s Studio and Project Space 5:00pm-7:00pm! Come check out the menu for a private visit to the listening booth while socializing among new works in progress. 40 Eagle Street.

-Terra Vintage, newly moved to 11 Eagle Street, will be offering all the components to assemble complimentary DIY dresser sachets combining dried flowers and herbs for an eco-friendly fabric refresh.

-Hearts Pace mocktails and live music! Mocktails start at 6:00pm and live music goes from 7:00pm-9:00pm. 15 Eagle Street.

-WallaSauce is hosting a fanny pack First Friday event, open to all. Come to our shop, select your favorite reused materials, and we’ll make you a fanny pack to pick up within a week. 77 Main Street.

-MAC Arts Lab: Come to 49 Main Street to make a reusable bag with the Bag Share Project. We will be turning empty seed, grain, and feed bags into sturdy bags for everyday use. Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own material to upcycle.

-Conscientious Cloth creates “Flax is Linen” window display at 77 Main Street. The first in a series of fiber installations to amuse and educate. Free. 24-7. Sidewalk viewing.

For more information visit nachamber.org/firstfridays.

About FIRST Fridays:

Founded in 2021 to encourage downtown businesses to stay open late once per month, FIRST Fridays is a grass-roots initiative to celebrate arts, culture and commerce in North Adams. Businesses and organizations are encouraged to host live music, gallery openings, restaurant specials and more.

Supporting organizations and businesses include Installation Space, City of North Adams, North Adams Chamber of Commerce, MCLA Arts & Culture, Walkaway House, Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC), Andrew Fitch, and supporting community members.

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 8 | 2:30 p.m. | New Abstractions | Gallery Reception at at Spring Street Market
April 8 | 8 p.m. | Dormeshia Tap Collective | MASS MoCA
April 12 | 7-9 p.m. | Your Strengths in Action | Psychodrama Session at Anahata Schoolhouse
April 13 | 5 p.m. | MASS MoCA After Hours
April 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Comedy at Bounti Fare Restaurant
April 15 | 8 p.m. | Live Comedy at Bright Ideas Brewing
April 16 | 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Mini Maker Market at Greylock Works
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 29 | 11 a.m. | 9th Annual Live Out Loud Conference | MCLA

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

Inclusive Recovery Grant Program

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $75,000,000 available to support small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program targets businesses that focus on reaching markets predominantly made up of socially and economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented groups, underserved markets, and those owned by minorities, women, veterans, immigrants, first-generation immigrants, disabled individuals, or those that identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. MGCC will administer grants up to $75,000 for eligible small businesses, in a geographically equitable manner. 

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: 

Inclusive Recovery 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 7 Grant | Valley Creates x A4A Capacity Building Grant (for Hampshire, Franklin, and Hampden counties)

• 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

Social Media Made Simple
Thursday, April 13 | 12 p.m.
Are you looking for an introduction to how to use social media for your business? In this workshop you will learn:

• The basics for using social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to help your business thrive

• Ways to decrease time spent on social media with automation

• How to integrate different social media into your marketing strategy to bring in additional revenue

• How you can use social media to target your audience with effective marketing messages

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

Connect with Us!

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