"Berkshire County is at an important moment. Employers across healthcare, manufacturing,
education, transportation and other essential industries need skilled workers, while
many of our neighbors are seeking pathways to meaningful careers and greater opportunity.
At BCC, we bring those needs together. Through affordable, flexible workforce education,
we prepare people for in-demand careers while helping local employers build the skilled
workforce our region needs.
Much of this work has been made possible through grants and other temporary funding
sources. As that funding becomes increasingly uncertain, philanthropic support is
more important than ever to sustain these opportunities and ensure they remain accessible
to our community.
Thank you for your generous support of BCC and the students we serve. Together, we
can continue opening doors for learners and building a stronger future for the Berkshires."
—Hara Charlier, Ph.D., President, Berkshire Community College
Give to the Workforce Education Fund
A better future begins with opportunity. Your generosity removes barriers to education,
expands access to career training, and prepares learners to succeed, all while strengthening
local employers and our Berkshire County community. Many of these opportunities have
been supported by grants and other temporary funding. As those resources expire or
become uncertain, philanthropic support becomes increasingly important.
Your gift helps provide:
- Tuition assistance and financial support
- Industry-recognized training and certifications
- Modern equipment and hands-on learning
- Career pathways that strengthen our community
Powered by the Berkshires.
Building what’s next.
BCC is preparing the skilled workforce our community depends on. Every gift helps
remove barriers so more people can access life-changing career training.
Give to the Workforce Education Fund
Workforce at BCC is where education, opportunity and economic vitality come together.
BCC’s Workforce and Community Education programs provide career training, professional development, and pathways to industry-recognized
credentials. We help people build meaningful careers, adapt to a changing economy,
and realize their full potential while partnering with local employers to build the
skilled workforce Berkshire County needs.
Employer Partnerships
We collaborate with Berkshire employers to develop training that create talent pipelines
that help businesses grow and our regional economy thrive.
Professional and Personal Development
Through professional development, Community Education, and initiatives like our AI Summits, we help individuals continue learning, adapting and growing throughout their careers
and lives.
Real people. Real opportunity. Real impact.
Every student who walks through BCC’s doors brings a unique story, a goal, and the
determination to build a better future. Through workforce education, those aspirations
become careers that strengthen families, businesses, and our community. During the
2025–26 academic year, 150 students completed career-focused workforce training. Graduates achieved an 85% first-time certification exam pass rate, including a 100%
first-time pass rate for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification, opening
doors to meaningful careers across the Berkshires.
The best thing is just knowing that BCC is supporting and advertising the trades.
Trades is such a fantastic option, but it’s not taught as much in schools. It’s not
offered as an equal option to traditional college. If more people knew that, there
would be so many more people going into the trades.
Kaela Martin, Front Line Advanced Supervisor Training
The EMT education program through BCC opened a door for me I didn’t know was possible. I had always considered
becoming an EMT, but was never able to afford the education. The grants and scholarships
that covered my class changed my life. I am actively using this knowledge in the field
on an ambulance. BCC gave me a way to help my community. I am thankful for this opportunity.
Paxton Strout, EMT Training
