Mission Statement
The mission of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is to provide focus and leadership towards creating and supporting a vibrant downtown district for the benefit of residents and visitors.
Who Are We?
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is an association of businesses, downtown property owners, residents, cultural and non-profit organizations joining forces to increase economic activity through promoting downtown as a great place to do business, obtain professional services, shop, dine, work, live, attend events, and enjoy recreational activities.
Background Information:
From its inception in 1983, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. has brought together downtown merchants and professional businesses to work on strategies to build a strong downtown and find solutions to downtown issues as they arise. It has been a nimble organization responding to changing economic challenges and competition.
It has grown in recent years to include the growing number of downtown cultural organizations, entertainment venues and restaurants that have helped transform downtown. It has also developed a close partnership with City departments that has led to major streetscape projects, parking improvements, and marketing efforts.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. carried out a strategic plan in 2010 that outlined a series of priorities for the organization. It established Board Committees to help carry out these goals. They include Business Improvement, Marketing and Promotion, Quality of Life, Arts and Entertainment, Executive Committee, and a Special Events Task Force. The Committees are open to both Board and non-Board members. Please click here to learn more about Downtown Pittsfield Inc. committees.
Current Organization Objectives
- Identify and recruit new businesses for downtown and help retain existing businesses.
- Create smaller commercial sub-districts to enable more effective planning and marketing.
- Develop and carry out on-going marketing and promotion efforts for residents and visitors that benefit downtown businesses and solidify downtown’s identity as the center of activity in BerkshireCounty.
- Improve downtown’s appearance, convenience and safety working with downtown businesses and property owners and City departments.
- Increase the presence and visibility of the arts, arts businesses and cultural organizations in downtown and help facilitate more partnerships and coordinated events
Board of Directors:
PRESIDENT: Robert A. Proskin (BBE Office Interiors)
VICE PRESIDENT: Valerie Whaling (Whaling Properties, LLC)
TREASURER: Christine Burke (Berkshire Housing Development Corp)
CLERK: Kate Maguire (The Berkshire Theatre Festival & The Colonial Theatre)
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION: John Valente (The Beacon Cinema)
James Benson (Mission Bar + Tapas)
David Carver (Scarafoni Associates)
Warren C. Dews, Jr. (The Berkshire Eagle)
Gordon G. Dinsmore, Jr. (Berkshire Life/Guardian)
Jeffrey Doscher (Berkshire Community College)
Jesse Cook Dubin (Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook)
Elie Hammerling (Downtown Pittsfield Resident)
Randy Kinnas (Pittsfield YMCA)
Peter J. Lafayette (Berkshire Bank Foundation)
Michael R. Lipton (Lipton Energy)
Peter M. Marchetti (Pittsfield Cooperative Bank)
June Roy Martin (Quality Printing)
Robert Maxwell (Greylock Federal Credit Union)
Mary McGinnis (Mary’s Carrot Cake)
Christopher Mills (General Dynamics)
David N. Powell (Patrick’s Pub)
Ian Rasch (Allegrone Construction)
Pamela Rich (Paul Rich & Sons)
Thomas J. Romeo (Berkshire Health Systems)
Laura Roudabush (Barrington Stage Company)
Michael Supranowicz (Berkshire Chamber of Commerce)
Steven Valenti (Steven Valenti Clothing for Men)
Lou Costi (Wholesale Auto)
Van Shields (Berkshire Museum)