UTICA, N.Y. — The Berkshire Bank Foundation awarded a three-year, $36,000 naming sponsorship to the Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation, Inc., and the MVCC thINCubator’s community room will now be known as the Berkshire Bank Room.
That’s according to a press release from Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC)and Berkshire Bank.
In addition, Berkshire Bank Foundation awarded $5,000 to support MVCC’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!).
“Berkshire Bank understands the importance of providing financial education to assist local communities to fuel small business,” Jennifer Hunt, AVP, commercial administrative manager at Berkshire, said in the release. “We are proud to support Mohawk Valley entrepreneurs with tailored financial solutions to empower communities to innovate businesses, create jobs, and grow wealth.”
The thINCubator serves as a hub for small businesses in the Mohawk valley with business advisement, mentoring programs, workshops, and co-working space.
“Our mission is to provide local entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful no matter where they are in their journey – from programs to mentorship to facility resources,” thINCubator Director Ryan Miller said. “Our partners at Berkshire Bank share the same vision, and we’re grateful for their continued support as we serve the Mohawk Valley business community.”
The YEA! program works with local middle and high school students to transform them into entrepreneurs. The after-school program takes students in grades six through 12 through the process of starting and running their own real business. Students work closely with local business leaders, community members, and educators to develop ideas and goals, write business plans, pitch to potential investors, obtain funding, develop their brand identity, and more. The program’s goals are to help students embrace the entrepreneurial side and launch a venture and to develop a stronger and more diverse small-business community in the region.
MVCC and Berkshire Bank held a ribbon cutting and renaming ceremony March 20 at the thINCubator.
Berkshire Bank, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB), has $12. 4 billion in assets and operates 96 branch locations.
Mohawk Valley Community College provides 90 degree and certificate options to a student body of 6,000 full- and part-time students. It serves an additional 6,000 people through its corporate and community education programs.