Berkshire Innovation Center Awarded $200K Grant

The Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield is getting a share of nearly $12 Million in grant money that’s being awarded to educational institutions across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Baker-Polito Administration today announced $11.7 million in Skills Capital Grants awarded to 47 educational institutions across the Commonwealth to update equipment and expand student enrollment in programs that provide career education.

Twelve of the organizations are receiving a Skills Capital Grant for the first time, and one school, Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, received a multi-year grant award for $1.25 million.

The Berkshire Innovation Center has been awarded a $200,000 portion of the grant money that will be used for the introduction of additional manufacturing and robotics training to support advanced manufacturers in the region.

At a critical time in our Commonwealth, these Skills Capital Grants will increase flexibility and support for schools and educational institutions to launch new programs and help more students develop important technical skills and prepare them for high-demand industries... As our economy moves forward, it will be crucial for young people to develop the important technical skills that local employers need to grow their businesses. ~ Governor Charlie Baker

To date, the Baker-Polito Administration has awarded approximately $92 million in Skills Capital Grants to nearly 300 different programs. Through Skills Capital Grants, schools have expanded their enrollment of students learning skills in high-demand occupations, enabling more than 16,200 additional students to enroll in educational programs that are prioritized by employers across Massachusetts.

The Berkshire Innovation Center is among three Berkshire educational institutions that are getting a portion of the grant money. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams has been awarded $250,000 and McCann Technical School, also in North Adams, is receiving $188,800.