Overview

Why it Matters

The need for high-quality jobs with career opportunities remains a primary concern for residents. While philanthropy is not an engine of job creation, it can play a vital role in bringing partners together to develop strategies that improve the conditions for economic and business growth. It can also support the development of promising sectors by contributing to the development of a qualified workforce, and helping connect mentors with business experience to entrepreneurs seeking to expand their business ventures.

Desired Outcomes

Jobs are created in new enterprises and small businesses because of greater access to capital and technical assistance.

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll)

Launched in 2019, EforAll Berkshire County is an innovative nonprofit program that leverages public-private partnerships for proven economic and social impact. With its focus on the untapped potential of every resident, Efor All takes a uniquely inclusive approach to economic development.

Operating in areas where partners are pursuing economic revitalization strategies, EforAll has a track record of helping residents turn their promising ideas into successful businesses and transforming communities into inclusive and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems. In 2022, our program expanded to include participants from Columbia County.

Strategy

Support Early-Stage Businesses: With an aim to reach entrepreneurs from communities that have been historically overlooked for economic investment, EforAll operates two primary programs.

The Business Accelerator is a free, one-year program offering immersive business training, mentoring and networking opportunities exclusively for entrepreneurs building out their business plans and operations.

Public pitch contests and seed funding give early-stage entrepreneurs the opportunity to validate their ideas with the business community, network and gather feedback, and compete for cash prizes.

Funding Partners

  • The City of Pittsfield/Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC)
  • Greylock Federal Credit Union
  • Mill Town
  • 1Berkshire
  • The Feigenbaum Foundation
  • Berkshire Bank
  • Callahan Dee Family Foundation
  • The Shah Family Foundation
  • Common Capital
  • MassDevelopment

170

Entrepreneurs have received support through business accelerators and pitch contests

100%

Graduation rate of business accelerator program

65%

Percentage of pitch contest participants with below median incomes

5,000

Hours of free services offered through pitch contests



Luis Hoose specializes in fitness training at LH Fitness in Pittsfield. He participated in the yearlong EforAll Business Accelerator.