Rep. Neal calls for Berkshires to join Holyoke tech center

PITTSFIELD – Congressman Richard “Richie” Neal told The Berkshire Beacon Wednesday, on a tour stop, that he would envision Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield working together to become part of the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke.

Funding for the center is expected to cost more than $150 million when fully built and equipped and, according to some observers, be the base for expanded technology and high-speed data in the commonwealth.

Like the Colonial Theater that used new market tax credits, these same credits could be applied by a developer to tie into these Berkshire sites, according to the congressman.

At the congressman’s stop at DelGallo’s Restaurant on East Street in Pittsfield, he was met by several political operatives who were having lunch. Renaldo DelGallo, former Pittsfield mayor and owner of the restaurant, played host to the visitors who were there for more than an hour.

The social gathering – without speeches – was more conversation and laughs.

Mr. Neal noted the new market tax credits are much like the old block grants that were issued to help municipalities.

The 90,000-square foot center is being built in partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, EMC Corp. and Cisco Systems to support research conducted at MIT, Northeastern University, Harvard University, Boston University and the University of Massachusetts.

The goal of the center, which will house high-performance computers, is to woo scientists and get federal and private research funding.

The center will also provide a place for research on clean energy and will showcase energy-efficient computing and green building design.

The center will also feature meeting space and classrooms that will be utilized by students at Holyoke Community College for IT education and job training.

Mr. Neal said he sees the opportunity for the Berkshire state colleges to help create a new job pool for local industries in western Massachusetts.

Once complete, the academic research at the center is expected to boost economic activity in the Bay State by more than $50 million and generate an estimated $1.7 million in state and local tax revenues.

There were about 25 people who sat and talked with the congressman. Others spent time with Eugene Dellea, Berkshire county coordinator, Daniel Johnson, Neal’s field organizer, and William Tranghese, press secretary.

Shannon Young from The Associated Press, Boston was covering the incumbent’s Pittsfield journey and his interactions with both elected officials and people from the area.

Posted by George C. Jordan III on August 30, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry