A recent tour of "God’s own part of the state," according to Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto, showcased a handful of the Berkshire’s largest and most promising commercial development sites to a group of local developers this week.

The tour encompassed several properties in Lee, Lennox and Pittsfield, including the Greylock Mill in Lee, which was closed in 2008 by Schweitzer-Mauduit International, as well as the former headquarters of KB Toys and the William Stanley Business Park, both in Pittsfield.

Developers said several elements are necessary to spark business development in the area, including further infrastructure development to provide better access the Mass Pike and strong broadband availability throughout the county to encourage telecommuting.

The panel included Maury Wolfe of DiMarinisi and Wolfe, Walter Upton, director of construction for the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Eden Milroy, president of Pilot Development, and Fred Kramer, president of Add Inc. and head of the New England Chapter of the Urban Land Institute.

Highlighting the area’s creative assets as an enticement, "if you find an enlightened mind, the Berkshires and Pittsfield is where that person and that company belongs," said Roberto.

The event was sponsored by MassDevelopment, which has done several previous development tours in towns such as New Bedford, Springfield, and Fitchburg. The events are meant to highlight the assets of areas of the state outside metro Boston, particularly the "Gateway Cities," former industrial towns like Brockton, Everett and Lawrence.