BerkShares

The towns set on the western part of Massachusetts, known as the berkshires, have many community projects that engage the community within the authentic shops and tourist attractions. As we know, tourists keep the local businesses up and running, for the most part. Locals do not do as much window shopping in their own town as much as one would hope.

It is difficult to keep a boutique running in the winter seasons when the amount of area traffic is not as heavy. Members of our community founded an organization known as BerkShares. This is a local currency for the berkshire citizens. That was made to inspire locals to shop at the unique stores in their towns to keep the culture alive.

Railroad street youth project, W.E. Dubois, the fairgrounds, and many other up lifting projects happening in our area today, bring the community to get involved in positive ways. BerkShares organization really got my attention, the people and the significance of this system should be further recognized. This could really affect locals and inspire our residents to support local businesses of the berkshires. Four hundred local businesses and sixteen banks within the southern part of the berkshires of sheffield all the way up to the northern town of Williamstown use BerkShares. for people and that we have control over in the berkshires”.

The economy of the stores are powered by the locals and it is very important that we embrace the amazing opportunity of healthy and local grown food and products. Berkshares gives an opportunity to “Simply spend your money in local businesses, and a way to make it visible”, says Maggio. In today’s society, the internet takes over where we spend our money, which can powerfully impact the economy and local corporations.

An employee of JWS, located in Great Barrington, said, “They [BerkShares] don’t come in all that often”. The problem, is that many citizens in the berkshires have not learned or heard about this currency. Because of the lack of popularity, the impact on the stores is less significant. If a positive amount of the citizens of berkshire county use BerkShares, the traffic of the local businesses would advance, and it would encourage people to shop and support local businesses.

I asked Maggio how the currency could be publicised more. She said “We need people to dig in and figure it out, and then share what they learn about it, and especially young people”. Berkshares could have an extensive impact on healthy eating and local businesses. Now all it needs is for the younger generation to advance the reputation of the currency.