GCC launches new program for entrepreneurs

From Recorder 12/19/2022

By MARY BYRNE Staff Writer

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College is continuing its effort to connect the regional community and grow the businesses of local entrepreneurs between Athol and Charlemont.

With the support of a $98,648 Community One Stop for Growth grant, GCC is launching the Route Two Rural Innovation Corridor Entrepreneurial Membership program, an initiative to help entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities launch their business dreams. From January to June, GCC will provide 10 entrepreneurs with business training, coaching and consulting services that will strengthen and hone their business and financial skills.

“The Route Two Innovation Corridor (program) will help us address some of the persistent challenges facing our region by providing the infrastructure entrepreneurs need to scale and sustain their work,” GCC Director

of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Max Fripp said in a statement. “We’ll be doing this through an aligned action network of civic leaders, nonprofits, schools and regional employers.”

The program, inspired by a pilot program out of LaunchSpace Inc. in Orange, is offered at no cost in partnership with LaunchSpace and Greenspace CoWork in Greenfield.

“One of the biggest assets (the partnerships) bring is that the 10 members of the cohort will have free access to the coworking spaces throughout the program,” Fripp said. “They bring a network of folks they’re already working with or know, who are excited to help grow and advance businesses.”

Entrepreneurs will have access to the various mak-

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erspaces, printers and digital media labs as part of the program, he added. “It doesn’t matter if you live in the North Quabbin region or the Greenfield area,” Fripp explained, “you have access to those spaces.”

Fripp said the concept for this initiative was the brainchild of LaunchSpace cofounder, CEO and President Brianna Drohen. Drohen explained that she piloted a similar program last year using a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development. Five entrepreneurs took part in the pilot, which was aimed at supporting artisans who want to work locally.

“There are not a lot resources for artisan entrepreneurs,” she said. “LaunchSpace saw a gap and is filling that need.”

Although the pilot was focused on artisan entrepreneurs, the new program will also welcome small businesses and food entrepreneurs. Five spaces, however, will be held for artisan entrepreneurs, she said.

“We’re really excited to take this pilot we created last year and create something through the partnerships with Greenspace CoWork and GCC, and better serve members in the community,” Drohen said.

She said the goal by the end of the six-month program is for the 10 entrepreneurs to be in a better place intellectually, financially and strategically.

Entrepreneurs involved in the program will be encouraged to take part in GCC’s annual “Take the Floor” pitch event, a competitive pitch event that seeks to provide startup or stability funding.

“So far, the applications we have are diverse in that they represent the diversity of our rural economy, and that’s really exciting,” Fripp said. “We’re looking for entrepreneurs who are a little further along in their journey than what I call ‘just an idea and a journal.’ They might have some record of sales

… or a prototype that they’ve done. It’s a little more mature than just the ideation phase.”

He referred to the program as part of the “push and pull” strategy for economic development. The push strategy involves working with entrepreneurs to grow their businesses to a point where they could operate out of a storefront or manufacturing plant in one of the empty storefronts along Route 2.

The pull strategy, meanwhile, is about leveraging talent and resources in the region to attract existing companies who may be looking to move from the Boston metro area to Franklin County.

Ultimately, the Route Two Rural Innovation Corridor program aims to encourage acting and thinking more regionally. Fripp said it was the third installment in GCC’s push to develop and grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Franklin County, referring to both the Take the Floor pitch competition and The Goods Pop-Up Shop on Main Street.

“A win for the North Quabbin is a win in Greenfield and in North Adams,” he said.

Applications for the Route Two Rural Innovation Corridor program will be accepted through Wednesday and individuals will be notified by Dec. 23 if they are being offered a spot in the program.

Applications can be submitted at gcc.mass.edu/community/ entrepreneurship/club.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne