Timber markets are one of America’s most valuable, yet unpredictable, natural resource industries. It is no stranger to volatility, going from boon to bust and back again. As recently as 2019, paper mills and biomass electric plants were closing in Maine, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, a four-state region collectively referred to as the Northern Forest. As the plants continued to close, the demand for wood harvested in the region began to decline.

Pittsfield, Massachusetts is a small New England community about two hours from Boston. Throughout the 20th Century, it was known as a hub for manufacturing, providing residents with a host of jobs in regional production plants. General Electric (GE) was the town’s biggest employer, operating a plastic production facility along the Housatonic River.

It is in that same spirit of preparedness that Vivian’s Door provides business training to the community, maintaining an open-door policy with its students - small business owners and entrepreneurs. It’s more than just helping them grow their businesses, but rather serving the whole community.