PITTSFIELD, MA – January 19, 2011 – As part of its ongoing commitment to Berkshire County, Berkshire Bank, America’s Most Exciting BankTM, will donate its historic central fire station building in downtown Pittsfield to allow four organizations working on behalf of community and economic development to come together as one.
The historic building will be made available to house the offices of 1Berkshire, the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, the Berkshire Visitors Bureau, and Berkshire Creative. By physically moving together in one space, these organizations will collectively welcome and meet the needs of all those coming to Berkshire County, including businesses, new residents and visitors.
The building, located at 66 Allen Street, currently houses Berkshire Bank’s Commercial Team, which will relocate to 66 West Street by the end of January 2012. The building became available as the result of Berkshire Bank combining operations with Legacy Banks. It is expected to be available for the new occupants in April 2012.
“Berkshire Bank has deep roots in Berkshire County dating back over 165 years,“ said Sean Gray, Berkshire Bank Executive Vice President of Retail Banking. “This community is our home, and we have been fortunate to be able to enhance our commitment to giving back as we have grown. We have been honored to enjoy the space of the historic central fire station, and are proud to now pass it on to organizations that are working for the betterment of our community now and into the future.”
Stuart Chase, President and CEO of 1Berkshire, expressed his sincere appreciation to Berkshire Bank for the generosity of the donation, which is valued at approximately $1.6 million. “This is a terrific opportunity to bring all of these important entities under one roof,” he said. “It will allow more effective collaboration and easier access to all those seeking our services, and it will enable us to serve more efficiently as a concierge for businesses looking to grow their in their current location or relocate to the Berkshires.”
Michael Supranowicz, President and CEO of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, echoed the sentiment saying, “With our fellow 1Berkshire affiliates, the Berkshire Chamber will continue to enhance the services available to the business community and improve all facets of its operation. With streamlined business services, improved educational resources, expanded programming and a strong union of economic development agencies, we are confident that this move will allow the entire community to reap the benefits of change.”
Lauri Klefos, President and CEO of the Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau, added, “The Berkshire Visitors Bureau is excited about this move to Pittsfield, which will enable all of our staffs to combine resources and find new ways to market the Berkshires as a premiere destination for the benefit of all of our constituencies.”
The central fire station building was built in 1895 to house the newly formed Pittsfield Fire Department. Once the new central fire station was built on Columbus Avenue, it was used by the City of Pittsfield for vehicle storage until it was purchased by Berkshire Bank in 1999 and refurbished to its current contemporary state. The building was added to the National Historic Register in 1977.
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About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Hills Bancorp is the parent of Berkshire Bank – America’s Most Exciting BankSM. The Company has more than $4 billion in assets and more than 60 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. Berkshire Bank provides 100% deposit insurance protection for all deposit accounts, regardless of amount, based on a combination of FDIC insurance and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). Berkshire has a pending agreement to acquire CBT – The Connecticut Bank and Trust Company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.berkshirebank.com or call 800-773-5601.
