City Center Ripe For New Business
By Robin Vinci
If you are out of work it may be time for you to think about opening your own business right in the center of New Britain.
City officials say the opportunities to open a small business in New Britain are more plentiful and perhaps even more profitable than ever.
New Britain real estate is cheap, said Gerry Amodio, New Britain Downtown District Director. People need to have a vision and they can make a lot of money.
Those with the foresight are taking advantage of this opportunity, officials said.
What we are seeing are people with entrepreneurial spirit opening up small businesses, said Bill Millerick, New Britain Chamber of Commerce Director. Some of them have been downsized or laid off and want to give their own businesses a try.
Many storefronts in the center of the city are presently vacant and although officials say it is worrisome, they do not believe the vacancies will stay that way.
When the police station is built, people will feel it is safe to walk the city streets, said Amodio. When the busway, in the old Greenfields on Main St. opens the half mile or so area around it will become very active.
The New Britain Downtown District has around 100 property owners and 200 businesses. Amodio expects to see those numbers grow in the next few years.
At the New Britain Chamber of Commerce, Millerick says the chamber is stabilizing.
We are experiencing a growth in new members because when a business comes into the city or opens up, they seem to realize or have heard from people that the Chamber's marketing and promotional and referral service can be a big boost, said Millerick. So, we are doing very well attracting new members in a bad economy.
Millerick also added that members are taking advantage of their membership by attending events such as networking, breakfasts and receptions.
(Those events) have been higher than ever and virtually every event is at capacity, said Millerick. That tells me, people want to take advantage of their membership.
The chamber also has SCORE counselors working on businesses plans and all kinds or issues that new and start-up businesses experience. The chamber offers those services for free.
Due to a city amendment, the downtown district is restricted in the area it can gain new members from and has shrunk due to properties such as the police station, going off the market.
I really believe, however, that our future is wonderful, said Amodio. Things are being done the right way. We want to get people downtown.
The district is holding celebration events throughout the summer at the corner of Chestnut and Main St. in order to bring residents into the center of the city. On July 15, August 5, 12, 19 and 26 music on stage is planned. On July 22 an International Food and Drink Festival will take place.
When people do come to New Britain, they are surprised to realize how much we really have here, said Amodio. I think once things get into place, we will attract a lot of people here.
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City Celebrates disabilities act on July 16
July 26, 2024 will be the 20th Anniversary of the signing into law of the American Disabilities Act of 1990.
In honor of that, the Common Council approved participation of the event with the Abilities Walk & Roll and Twentieth Annual Ability/Disability Awareness Day Celebration at the Darius Miller Music Shell from 5-9 p.m. on July 16.
The celebration will include exhibits from disability related commercial vendors as well as information about advocacy and disability related service agencies and organizations available in the area A free performance by the band Hot House Band will take place from 7-9 p.m.
According to the council resolution, for over thirty years the City of New Britain has taken an active role to improve access and equal opportunity to persons with disabilities in all of its activities, services and programs.
The city wants to ensure that citizens with qualified disabilities are afforded an opportunity to participate in local government through its boards and commissions, and its employment practices, including the Commission on Persons with Disabilities and through the citys employment opportunities.
The United States Census Bureau determined as a result of the 2000 census survey that a significant portion of New Britains population an estimated 16,374 citizens live quality lives with one or more disability.