BerkShares to celebrate 7th anniversary

GREAT BARRINGTON — BerkShares, the local currency for the Berkshires region, will be celebrating its seventh anniversary with an evening at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on September 22 at 7:30 p.m.

The event will be hosted by David Brancaccio, the voice of Marketplace Morning Report and former co-host of NOW with Bill Moyers. Mr. Brancaccio will talk about the new economy work he sees going on across the country, and will help give out awards to various BerkShares businesses.

State Rep. Smitty Pignatelli is also expected to give special recognition to an outstanding citizen of Berkshire County during the event, which is meant to be a celebration of local businesses and community.

“We will have a little time, as well, to talk about the next steps for BerkShares, which involve what we call Community Supported industry—a citizen-based initiative to build and support more local businesses that produce essentials like food, clothing, shelter and energy from local renewable resources,” explained BerkShares coordinator Alice Maggio.

After the event at the Mahaiwe wraps up, the celebration will continue next door at the Castle Street Café with live music by the BTUs.

Local businesses sponsoring the event include Berkshire Bank Foundation, Jane Iredale Cosmetics, the Red Lion Inn, and Joe Wilkinson Excavating, Inc.

Tickets are $10 or 10 BerkShares, and both Berkshire residents and visitors are welcome to attend. The event is free for owners of BerkShares businesses and for BerkShares board members.

“We’re aiming for 400 people in the audience, if not more, and we hope maybe 200 of those audience members will be from businesses that accept BerkShares,” Ms. Maggio said. “Owners, employees, retirees, students, visitors, everyone is welcome.”

Since its launch in 2006, BerkShares have grown tremendously and are now accepted at over 400 businesses in Berkshire County. By empowering citizens and business owners to keep their money circulating within the region, BerkShares reclaims currency as a tool for local economic development.

“This is a great chance to learn about the potential our local currency to be more than a buy-local program,” said Ms. Maggio. “BerkShares can be a tool for local economic development, and we are poised to make the next steps.”

Posted by Dana Drugmand on August 29, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry