Berkshire CEDs
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Berkshires
The Berkshire Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is an ongoing regional economic development planning process designed to coordinate the economic development efforts of the region's diverse group of development organizations, local governments, private industry, entrepreneurs and other individuals. The CEDS is required to maintain eligibility for federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding. According to EDA guidelines, eligibility for funding consideration requires:
- a continuous planning PROCESS responsive to other regional economic development initiatives
- a CEDS COMMITTEE representing the entire region and diverse in its members' backgrounds, interests and community orientations
- a DOCUMENT detailing the Committee's strategic planning process, updated annually as the Committee evaluates regional priorities and actions.
The Berkshire CEDS 2004 Committee
The Berkshire CEDS 2004 Comittee, chaired by Lee CDC Director Rich Vinette and staffed by BRPC, has been meeting since May 2004 to revive the Berkshire CEDS document and process, which had been on hiatus since 2001. In accordance with EDA guidelines, the Berkshire CEDS Committee represents a diverse set of interests and core competencies from throughout the region. Among its members are representatives and advocates of local governments, business, industry, finance, education, community organizations, public health agencies, the aged, the unemployed, underemployed, racial or ethnic minorities, and women. The Committee demonstrates the region's conscientious effort to include as broad a range of voices as possible in the development strategy for the Berkshire economy.
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Al Bashevkin | Northern Berkshire Community Coalition |
| Blair Benjamin | MASS MoCA |
| David Bissaillon | Berkshire Chamber of Commerce |
| Heather Boulger | Berkshire County Regional Employment Board |
| Donna Cesan | Town of Adams |
| Churchill Cotton | Westside Neighborhood |
| Tim Geller | Tri-Corner Community Development Corporation |
| Mark Germanowski | City of Pittsfield |
| Sam Haupt | Berkshire Regional Planning Commission Chair |
| Mike Hoffman | Banknorth |
| Denise Johns | Berkshire Applied Technology Council |
| Matt Kerwood | Pittsfield City Council |
| Al Marden | City of North Adams |
| Bill Mulholland | Berkshire Community College |
| Sharon Palma | Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce |
| Yvonne Pearson | Downtown, Inc. |
| Ed Perlak | Berkshire Health Systems |
| Brenda Quinones | Berkshire Latin American Council |
| Richard Rilla | Berkshire Plastics Network-Ironman Machine |
| Richard Scullin | Berkshire Regional Competitiveness Council |
| Vicki Singer | Berkshire Enterprises |
| Eleanore Velez | Berkshire Latin American Council |
| Richard Vinette | Lee Community Development Corporation |
| Ken Walto | Town of Dalton |
The Committee intends to meet quarterly following the submission of the CEDS 2004 document, in order to maintain an ongoing economic development process for the region.
Berkshire CEDS Materials
Please click on a link below to open the documents in PDF format (see BRPC homepage for an Adobe Acrobat download link).
Elements of the Document
The Committee has approved drafts of the elements of the CEDS 2004 document shown here.
- Berkshire CEDS 2004 Regional Strengths & Weaknesses
An outline of the Berkshire's economic development strengths and weaknesses - Vision Statement Goals & Objectives Action Plan Activities
The latest version of the 11" x 17" summary of the revised 2004 CEDS Vision Statement, Goals & Objectives, and Action Plan Activities
Meeting Minutes
Missed any meetings? Find a thorough documentation of the CEDS 2004 Committee proceedings here.
- Meeting #1 [5/06/04]
- Meeting #2 [5/13/04]
- Meeting #3 [5/25/04]
- Meeting #4 [6/03/04]
- Meeting #5 [6/17/04]
- Meeting #6 [7/08/04]
- Meeting #7 [7/15/04]
- Meeting #8 [9/21/04]
- Meeting #9 [10/14/04]
- Meeting #10 [11/09/04]
Background Information
Materials provided to Committee members in preparation for the CEDS process
- Berkshire CEDS 2004 Backgrounder (excerpted from BRPC newsletter)
A very useful primer on Berkshire CEDS history and outlook for 2004 and beyond. A good place to start.... - Committee Roles & Responsibilities
A brief review of the tasks, time commitments and thought processes asked of CEDS Committee members - Berkshire CEDS 2004 Projects, Priorities, Evaluation & Action Plan (excerted from BRPC newsletter)
A summary of the types of projects suitable for CEDS submission, CEDS project evaluation criteria, and CEDS project priorities - Berkshire CEDS 2004 Bibliography
A list of economic development publications, tailored to the needs and interests of the Berkshire CEDS Committee and other Berkshire economic development partners. The Bibliography PDF includes weblinks for listed publications, where available.