Blackshires receives another $100,000 state grant to continue network for Black entrepreneurs, leaders | Business

PITTSFIELD — A “good week” got even better for the Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation.

Its program designed to accelerate business creation and networking in the Black community announced last week that it received another $100,000 state grant to boost its work in 2025.

The nonprofit also celebrated those who graduated its 2024 accelerator program on Thursday and each participant received $2,000 as a final grant to continue their work.

Blackshires received the Urban Agenda Grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development. It is the third year Blackshires has received this grant, and the second year it received $100,000.

The money is specifically directed at the Blackshires Leadership Accelerator, a “17-week program that provides community-based training, cohort support, leadership development, business development networking opportunities, a stipend of $1,700, and a final $2,000 completion grant towards a business or community project,” according to an announcement on Friday.

The Urban Agenda Grant award was one of $2.5 million awarded to 26 projects around the state by the Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll administration. It was part of $161 million announced on Thursday in Worcester for all projects in the larger “Community One Stop for Growth” economic development program, according to a news release.

Blackshires was created in 2022 with a goal of creating a “pipeline” for “Black community talent.” Participants get training and connect with local leaders and institutions in order to solidify plans for their projects and learn about funding possibilities. The program also creates a “talent pool” for hire by businesses, nonprofit groups and government. It also works the other way, with participants sitting on boards and performing other community service.

Other program supporters providing money include the Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation and 1Berkshire, Berkshire Bank and the Crane Foundation. Blackshires partners include the city of Pittsfield, Berkshire Health Systems, Jacob’s Pillow and Kripalu.

Blackshires Executive Director and co-founder John Lewis said that the impact of all the partners in this “huge collaboration” cannot be overstated.

The partners, he said, “believed in this project at the idea stage of it.” They also wrote letters to the state in support of the grant.

“It’s more than just putting money where their mouth is,” Lewis said. “That takes vision and we love them for that.”

Lewis said the grant award from the state is “testament to the power of community-driven leadership.”

“The Blackshires Leadership Accelerator is not just about building individual leaders,” Lewis said, “it’s about nurturing a collective strength that transforms the socio-economic landscape for the Black community in the Berkshires.”

Lewis said that for the organization and community, “it was such a good week.”