Copyright 2005 MediaNews Group, Inc. and New England Newspaper Group Inc.  
The Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)
December 14, 2005 Wednesday
SECTION: TOP STORY

LENGTH: 723 words

HEADLINE: Local workers find a stage

BYLINE: Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle Staff

BODY:
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Wednesday, December 14 PITTSFIELD -- The economic impact of the Colonial Theatre has already begun in the Pittsfield and Berkshire County region because the majority of contractors and workers on the $13.1 million construction and restoration project are locally based.

"It's important to the economy of the area to use local workers," said Jack Guyette, a carpenter steward on the Colonial project for Barr & Barr Builders. "We spend our money here."

According to figures released by Colonial officials, about 70 percent of the construction budget has been awarded to local companies. And of the 140 to 150 tradesmen and 30 to 40 supervisors that will have worked on the job by the time it is completed, 80 to 90 percent of them will be local residents.

"This is a theater for the community. Having community people working on the project just goes with our philosophy," said acting executive director Sharon Harrison. "Just as we are making an investment in the community, part of the community is making an investment in us."

She explained that although the contracts were put out to bid in an effort to be fiscally responsible, "we did as much as we could to keep it local," Harrison said.

Work being handled by local firms includes electrical; plumbing; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and fire suppression systems, Harrison said. She also noted that although the Northeast Riggers & Erectors are not a local firm, when they came in to do the job they hired local tradesmen for the project.

"The Colonial is already demonstrating how funds being invested into this project are gong back into our local economy," she said. "We expect this trend to continue when the theater opens."

www.thecolonialtheatre.org

Mike Wooliver's roofing firm, D.J. Wooliver & Sons Inc., won the $148,000 Colonial contract. He had just finished the Berkshire Museum roofing job when it was time to move over to the Colonial project.

"It's a big job in the city of Pittsfield, something that was important for us to do," said Wooliver. "I think they should try and keep the money in the Berkshires -- these are the people who will support it. And they've got a lot of really good local companies down there."

Jeff Daignault, owner of Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., said his company is handling the HVAC, plumbing and sprinkler system work at the Colonial -- a $1.25 million job.

"It's nice to be associated with the project because it is high profile," said Daignault. "I think area companies should at least get a shot at the project, at least get the opportunity to put a price on it."

An economic impact study conducted by Stephen C. Sheppard, a professor of economics at Williams College, concluded that once operational, the Colonial Theatre would attract 100,000 attendees annually who would spend about $2 million. Indirect benefits would include up to 100 permanent jobs, an increase in property values and up to $750,000 in annual new tax revenues for Pittsfield.

"This is really going to be something here," said Guyette, "something that I hope the local people really use because they made it a point that they wanted to use as much local help as possible."

Using local tradesmen also helps with the quality of the work, noted Neil Genaway, assistant superintendent for Barr & Barr on the Colonial. "Working on so many local projects, you start to develop a relationship with local contractors and local craftsman. You know what to expect from them and they know what is expected. It's not a big learning curve."

Although it has been termed a $21 million project, the actual construction cost is about $13.1 million, with the rest going to insurance, theater operations and a variety of other "soft" costs.

"This job is a focal point for the community," said Sean O'Neill, a carpenter foreman for Professional Drywall Construction. "So it feels good that they didn't pull labor in from elsewhere. If you use people from outside the community, when the ability is here, you're taking food out of somebody else's mouth. And these are members of the community that will take pride in it, and some of them will use it."

Scott Stafford can be reached at sstafford@berkshireeagle.comor [413] 496-6240.

LOAD-DATE: December 14, 2005