Issue #85 | Friday, August 4, 2023

North Adams FIRST Friday will be held on August 4 featuring street games, a bounce house, gallery openings, live music, shop specials, a bicycle rodeo, and food and drinks. 

Eagle Street will be closed to traffic for a community block party. 

Gallery, Shop, & Restaurant events:

• Village Pizza: Outdoor dining | 5-9 p.m. | 51 Eagle Street

• Jack’s Hotdogs: Outdoor dining | 5-7 p.m. | 12 Eagle Street

• Eagle Street Lounge: Live music | beer & wine | 5-7 p.m. | 5 Eagle Street

• Mr. Ding-A-Ling Ice Cream Truck

• Many more to come!

For more information visit nachamber.org/firstfridays.

North County Happenings

Upcoming

August 4 | 5-9 p.m. | FIRST Friday Block Party | Downtown North Adams
August 4 | 5-8 p.m. | Paper Making Demonstration & Exhibition Opening | Common Folk Artist Collective
August 4 | 6-8 p.m. | Future Lab[s] New Exhibition Opening
August 5 | 5-8 p.m. | Minor Moon | Bright Ideas Brewing
August 5 | 8 p.m. | Illana Glazer Live at MASS MoCA
August 6 | 5 p.m. | Wells Provisions Seafood Dinner | TOURISTS Welcome
August 6 | 6-8 p.m. | RJ McCarty | Bright Ideas Brewing
August 7 | 5 p.m. | Misty Blues Band | The Barn Kitchen + Bar
August 8  | 6 p.m. | Kathleen Edwards | The Clark
August 9 | 5:30 p.m. | North Adams Downtown Celebration
August 18 | 7:30 p.m. | Live Comedy at Bounti-Fare Restaurant
August 18 | 8 p.m. | Danielle Ponder | MASS MoCA
August 20 | 3:30 p.m. | Miss Emilee ECE Presents: Sensory Palooza to Benefit BNF | Margaret Lindley Park | Williamstown
August 23 | 6 p.m. | Canning 101 Workshop | North Adams Public Library
August 27 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Motorama Car Show
August 31 | 6 p.m. | Cidermakers’ Dinner with Berkshire Cider | Hancock Shaker Village
August 31 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Williams College Community Resource Fair for new students

Save the Date: 67th Annual Fall Foliage Parade | October 1 | 1 p.m.
Input Needed: Submit your theme ideas for the 2023 Fall Foliage Parade!

ArtWeek Berkshires
October 14 - 22 | Berkshire County
Celebrate creativity during this 10-day festival showcasing local artists and cultural organizations at more than 100 events across the Berkshires. This event is produced by 1Berkshire and the five Cultural Districts of Berkshire County. 

Ongoing

Every Saturday | 9-1 | Williamstown and North Adams Farmers Market
Every Friday | 7:30 to 9 a.m. | North Adams Coffee Dates | Eagle Street Parklet
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday | 7:30 to 9 a.m. | Adams Coffee | Armory Court
Every Sunday | 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Mini Maker Market at Greylock Works
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 1st & 3rd Thursday | 7 p.m. | Midweek Music Lounge at Bright Ideas Brewing
Every 1st & 3rd Friday | 6-8 p.m. | Craft Night at Common Folk
Every 2nd Monday of the Month | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Free Pregnancy Loss Support Group | Movement Matters Healing Arts
Every Thursday Night | 6-10 p.m. | The Chalet at MASS MoCA

Want your event listed? Submit the listing here

Free Summer Events

Movies Under the Stars - 1st & 3rd Fridays of July/August, Dusk @ Adams Visitors Center

Free Concerts on the Lawn- Every Tues. starting July 11, 6:30-8PM @ Adams Visitors Center

Eagle St Beach Party – Sat. July 22 3:30 – 6:30PM for the kids’ event; 7 - 10PM for Fiesta @ Eagle St. North Adams

Free nbCC Outdoor Movies at Noel Field Sat. July 22 & Aug. 19.
Dusk @ Noel Field, North Adams

Adams Street Fair- July 30, 12-6PM @ Adams Visitors Center

National Night Out - Tues. Aug. 1, Check your town for time and location. Generally 4-8PM.

Free Outdoor Movies at the Clark - Wednesdays in August, Dusk @ the Clark

Downtown Celebration –Wed. August 9th (rain date 8/10) 5:30 – 9 PM @ Downtown North Adams

Motorama Car Show– Sun. August 27th, 9 AM – 3 PM @ Downtown

Opportunities

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• 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 Intersectional Environmentalist Contributor's Network

• 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

EVENTS

• monthly Open Studios at Walkaway House

• every 4th Wednesday: Writer's Group at Bear and Bee

• 2nd Tuesday (monthly) Herbalist Meet-Up at Common Folk

• weekly Berkshire Environmental Action Team Volunteer Opportunities

• monthly events at Plant Connector

• monthly events at Savvy Hive

• weekly Common Craft Night at Common Folk

Workshops & Webinars

Legal Considerations for "Women-Owned" Business Certifications

Monday, August 7 l 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM  

Are you thinking about certifying your business as woman-owned? A common reason that applications for certification are denied, is that the business is not set up correctly. Join us for an overview of the process and criteria for obtaining WBE/WOSB certification and an explanation of the supporting materials that must be submitted for different business types.

Register Online

Get Your Financial Statements In Order for Certification

Tuesday, August 15 l 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM  

Are you thinking about certifying your business as woman-owned? A common reason that applications for certification are denied, is that the financial documentation is not in order. Join us for a walkthrough of the financial documents needed for obtaining certification! 

Register Online

Google Certification Info Session
Thursday, August 17th l 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Google Certification info session with YMCA will be hosted at the CWE Rhode Island office (132 George M Cohan Blvd Providence, RI 02903) on August 17th.
In partnership with Google, YWCA RI is offering a FREE program that includes six professional certifications and job skills training. Although it is virtual, our partnership will focus on providing support throughout your journey.

These certifications are based on Google’s own experience in hiring and training professionals.

Google certifications in:

• E-commerce

• Digital Marketing

• Project Management

Register HERE & we'll save you a seat for our info session!

A Beginners Guide to Canva

Tuesday, August 22 l 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM  

If you’re looking to get an edge on marketing your business—especially on social media—graphic design is a great way to stand out from the competition. And now with Canva, it’s free! Join us as we bring in marketing expert, Catrina Gardner, to help you learn the basics with a Canva tutorial from start to finish with an eye for brand marketing and social media, including:



• Using Canva templates and making them your own with branding.

• Using the right graphics, colors, and font for your brand and message.

• What to include on specific types of social media graphics.

Register Online

Power Forward Accelerator Program

Thursdays, September 7 - December 7 l 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

WHERE: Hybrid (3 days in person in Western Mass)

COST: FREE (Thanks to our sponsors at MassMutual)
REGISTER HERE

The 2023 Power Forward Accelerator is a 13-week program that offers a transformative journey for women entrepreneurs seeking to navigate the growth stage of their business and create a strategy for strong profitability. Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge, skills, resources, and networks necessary to explore new markets, overcome growth barriers, and achieve long-term success. Through a comprehensive curriculum, we'll help you evolve your business from the start-up stage to growth-ready.

In addition to accessing the Power Forward classes, you will get financial and 1:1 support to obtain your WBENC certification to increase your brand awareness, join a national network of women entrepreneurs, and leverage your certification for procurement or contracting opportunities.

Topics will include:

• Strategic growth planning and business development 

• Access to tools and resources for creating powerful strategy plans 

• Expert guidance and personalized support 

• Networking opportunities with like-minded business owners 

• Exploration of financing and marketing strategies 

• Overcoming post-COVID challenges and identifying new possibilities

The Berkshire Flyer

Connect with Us!

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