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NEWS FROM YOUR CHAMBERMEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Jim Boscov of Boscov's

Q: What is the benefit of a business, smallor large, joining a professional networklike a chamber of commerce?A: You get the insight from many differentperspectives. We all only know what weknow. The opportunity to sit down with otherpeople, learn from them, share ideas--there'sa tremendous benefit there.

Q: With 47 Regional stores, why would alarge company like Boscov's join a localchamber of commerce?A: We live here, work here, play here, makemoney here, we succeed by being a memberof the community. To be an outsider whodoesn't participate--who would want tosupport that?

Q: In selecting the locations to build newstores, what do you look for in a community

and how does Milford fit that bill?A: There are several criteria. We want to be either within our exisiting footprint orwe can stretch out a little bit further-- the geographic location is very important forus. We also depend on the availability of space. There are malls that we know wewould like to go into but there's nothing available. To build a new store now is notaffordable but so many big boxes are becoming available. Those are the spacesthat make sense. Is this a market that we can succeed in? Is our customer here?Our customer is really middle America. We want to make sure that there's asufficient number of people who could be our customer, so we look at thedemographics. We are learning to use data a little bit better.

Q: What is special about doing business in Milford?A: In Lebanon, Pennsylvania, it's a very homogeneous market. In Connecticut,there are a lot of different diverse pockets. We have to make sure that we arerelevant to each of those and that we are sending the right message and reachingthose.

Q: What would your advice be to someone starting a new business in the city?A: Making sure that you have a personality, and that means a sense of humor andpassion--that has to show in your business. If you are looking at any business thathas failed, it's because you don't know who they are, what they stand for. I thinkhaving personality and putting your heart and soul into something makes all the

difference.

Business News

Subway partners withBeyond Meat onsandwich trialSubway is partnering with Beyond Meat to test avegetarian twist on one of its classic sandwiches.The Milford-based sandwich chain announcedWednesday that it will be partnering with thepopular plant-based protein brand to putmeatless meatballs in its marinara sub. Startingin September, almost 700 Subway restaurantswill offer the “Beyond Meatball” marinara sub.

The collaboration with Beyond Meat is the latestin a list of changes that Subway hasimplemented in recent years to revive customerinterest.Since the start of 2018, the chain haslaunched a series of campaigns focused ontempting customers back into franchiselocations, including a redesign of hundreds oflocations.

Video Game BusinessLeases Space In MilfordThe Geenty Group, Realtors, reports the lease ofa 1,600 SF unit at 233 Research Drive, Milford.The Tenant is Aim Controllers, LLC. AdamCudakiewicz is the Owner. He will utilize thespace for customizing PlayStation and Xboxcontrollers for video games.

Wave Integrative MedicalCenter relocates to MilfordWave Integrative Medical Center, a practice infunctional and holistic medicine has relocated to326 West Main Street, Suite 108 in Milford. TheCenter provides scientific healing solutions forcomplex chronic or inflammatory illnesses.

Jake's Diggity Dogs opensin Downtown MilfordDowntown Milford has a new eatery: Jake’sDiggity Dogs, formerly of New Haven, openedrecently, selling specialty hot dogs like theReuben, a hot dog topped with pastrami andswiss cheese and choice of sauerkraut orcoleslaw; the Baconater, topped with bacon andcheese and Hotsy Totsy, a huge Georgia hot witha choice of cheese and any cold topping. Jeff“Jake” Russell, opened the hot dog venue withhis fiancé Sherri Knapp, at 40 Broad Street. Thebuilding is owned by photographer anddowntown businessman Stuart Walls. BetweenRussell and Walls, they have enough passion forthis new business to make it an instant success.

August Recap

We celebrated a Ribbon Cutting for State FarmAgent Christopher Carucci last month.

Wave Integrative Medical Center hosted an openhouse last month introducing their practitioners

and health experts to talk about functionalmedicine, gut health, mold sickness, Lyme & tick-

borne diseases and solutions for chronic pain.

2019 State of the City

Mayor Ben Blake gave his seventh annualState of the City address on August 2nd atthe Milford Yacht Club. He spoke aboutthe city's relentless progress” during theState of the City luncheon, organized bythe Milford Chamber of Commerce. About100 local business representatives andcommunity leaders, including Milford’sbrand new school superintendent, Dr.Anna Cutaia, heard the mayor talk aboutthe recent dredging of the city duck ponds, clearing 50,000 cubic yards of sediment andrestoring the walls around them, and the installation of a new splash pad and pickleball courtsat Eisenhower Park.Blake said the city boasts 450 new businesses, up 9% from the previousyear; a tax base of $6.7 billion, which he said makes the city’s Grand List the largest in NewHaven County and one of the largest in the state.

Creating efficiencies continues to be a priority, asthe city’s workforce has been streamlined,annual health insurance costs were recently cut$2 million, and millions of dollars in savings areexpected from replacing street lamp bulbs withLED lightbulbs.The city is leveraging its AAAcredit rating to refinance $17 million in bonds,and renegotiating its electrical generation coststo save money, the mayor said.

“We’re a small city with lotsof charm that continues toprosper and fly high,” Blakesaid.

He talked about a downtown steeped in historyand charm, noting that the Milford Green wasrecently added to the State Register of Historic

Places. He mentioned new bike lockers at thetrain station, and an evolving downtown plan ofdevelopment. A downtown developmentcommittee that had been studying ways to usethe city-owned property that once housed CornerConvenience and Scratch Bakery recentlycompleted a series of interviews and has chosento partner with Metro Star to develop the site.

Breakfast at Boscov'sWe enjoyed a wonderful morning at Boscov's on

August 21st where our members enjoyed adelicious breakfast, plenty of networking, ascavenger hunt and a presentation fromJim Boscov on "Why Retail is Thriving."

"I think having personality andputting your heart and soul intosomething makes all thedifference."-Jim Boscov

Emerging Professionals Inspiring Change

For so many young professionals,entering the workforce can be anoverwhelming and often intimidatingendeavor. The Milford Regional Chamber ofCommerce is working closely with a groupof its young professionals to launch anetwork of professionals ages 21-39looking to make connections, growbusiness networks and get involved in theMilford community.

EPIC, which stands for EmergingProfessionals Inspiring Community,launched in Spring of 2016 but has beenrecently re imagined by a group ofpassionate young professionals hoping toprovide opportunities to not only build upnetworks and social relationships, but alsoto become a part of the social fabric of thecity. These young professionals hope touse their connections not only to boosteconomic development, but to serve as acatalyst for change through communityoutreach.

Creating an interaction between thebusiness community and philanthropiccommunity is an integral part of EPIC’smission. Whether it’s volunteering at alocal 5K, Folks on Spokes or a networkingevent at Bowlero, the group is dedicated tohelp grow each other’s careers and helpthe community where they work.

“EPIC provides the communitywithin the community that every youngprofessional is looking for. Througheducation, volunteering and socialevents, I have been able to meet agroup of fun people who are interestedin success, both professionally andpersonally. I continue to developvaluable skills and a growing network,as a member, every day.”- Jen Paradis, Executive Director ofthe Beth El Center

Head to EPIC’s Facebook page for information about upcomingmeetings and events open to chamber members age 21-39 years.

Thank you to our New & Returning #MRCCMembersADP

Boscov'sMilford Sports Pub & Grill

Pro Realty ImagingSpecific Chiropractic

Total Realty Services, LLCWave Integrative Medical Center

Upcoming Chamber Events This Month

Member Happenings

Berchem Moses PC is pleased to announce that 5 attorneys have been included inU.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Since itwas first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the

definitive guide to legal excellence.

Berchem Moses PC would like to congratulate the following lawyers namedto 2020 The Best Lawyers in America list:

Robert L. Berchem - Real Estate LawRichard J. Buturla - Litigation - Labor and Employment

Floyd J. Dugas - Labor Law - ManagementChristopher M. Hodgson - Employment Law - Management, Labor Law -

Management, Litigation - Labor and EmploymentWarren L. Holcomb - Litigation - Labor and Employment

Lawyers named to The Best Lawyers in America© publication were recognized bytheir peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 146 practice areas.For the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 8.3 million votes were analyzed,

which resulted in the inclusion of more than 62,000 lawyers, or approximately 5% oflawyers in private practice in the United States.

“Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of recognizing extraordinarylawyers in private practice through an exhaustive peer-review process. Almost 40

years later, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased guide tolegal talent worldwide,” says Phil Greer, CEO of Best Lawyers.

The process begins when lawyers are nominated for consideration. They are dividedby geographic region and practice area and are evaluated by their peers on the basisof professional expertise. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo an additionalverification process to make sure they are currently practicing and in good standing.

Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.

Search The Best Lawyers in America results by lawyer name, firm, region, and/orpractice area by visiting www.bestlawyers.com .

Discover Milford CT in collaboration with the Cityof Milford will launch its first annual PorchFest onSeptember 28, 2019 from 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM.PorchFest is an annual music event held acrossthe country on front porches.

Bands, singers, and instrumentalists of allgenres are encouraged to sign up and participatein the event. Plan to walk, ride bikes, or pushstrollers as you move from one porch to anotheralong a determined route to partake in thefestivities and to enjoy the beautiful Milfordscenery.

ADVOCACY FOR YOU

The Connecticut Economy

A panel of business leaders takes adeep dive into the survey results,

examining the factors that are drivingor hampering growth, hiring and

investment trends, and the impact offederal tax and trade policies.

Growth Stories: How BusinessesAre Making It in Connecticut

Many Connecticut companies aregrowing, thanks to strong national

and international markets, awillingness to adapt and innovate,

and stubborn self-belief andpersistence.

U.S. DOL Proposes Private Sector ApprenticeshipPrograms

Connect with a NewHaven SCORE mentorto receive free smallbusiness advice.The volunteer business professionals at NewHaven SCORE are expert in a wide range ofessential areas of business and commerceand offer private mentoring and a variety ofworkshops and seminars.

Schedule an appointment at 9, 10 or 11amon Tuesday September 3rd by contacting theMilford Chamber at csmith@milfordct.com

Tune up your BrandResonance for MarketingSuccessIves Main Branch, New Haven FreePublic LibraryTuesday September 17th 6-7:30pm

How do you stand out in a sea of brands? Byharnessing the power of harmony, consistency,momentum and impact. Through interactiveexercises, you’ll discover ways to express howyou want your brand to make people feel, who isin your tribe, and how to articulate your brand’ssuper powers. Register Here

ctNetwork forEntrepreneurial WomenCreative Arts Workshop, New HavenWednesday September 25th 6 – 8PM

Join your knowledgeable co-hosts, 3 engagingspeakers, and 40 other entrepreneurial womenat this event. You'll walk away with new friends,lots of good ideas, and we hope at least one leadto follow up on!

Anatomy of anIncubatorML Keefe Center, HamdenTuesday September 17th 9 am - 12 pm

Learn about developing a businessincubator in your own town by seeing and

learning from a success story in Hamden,CT! Come be one of the first to seeHamden's new business incubator.

Network at Night Eventon Tuesday, September 17th from 5-7 pm

@ Riverview Bistro

This is a great opportunity to mix andmingle with members and enjoy a relaxingevening on the patio with beautiful waterviews. There will be some complimentaryapps and cash bar at this FREE event.

It has been seven months since I was given the honor ofserving as the Executive Director of the Milford RegionalChamber of Commerce. It continues to be an excitingopportunity and I thought I would take this time to reflect onthe transformative power of this Chamber and its role inleading economic growth and development in ourcommunity.

Our history shows that the Chamber has always been aplace where community-leadership and community-buildinginitiatives begin and carry on. Such initiatives include the

1955 Parking Committee organized to address the need for off-street parkingand the start of the the Milford Junior Achievement program. The 1960s found theChamber involved with efforts to establish a Harbor Commission, initiate a FireSafety program for Milford businesses, beautify the downtown green, andrevitalize the railroad station, through which thousands of visitors to our City pass.

The 70s found the Chamber moving to its current location at the Taylor Librarywhere it continued working with the city to create a Plan of Development, beingthe catalyst for the start of Milford Progress Inc (MPI) which was formed to fostereconomic development, and through one of our own—Diana Nytko—creating thenow infamous Oysterfest.

The next two decades were filled with Chamber work on behalf of businesses andthe community—MPI hosted a SBA seminar that led to the completion of 56Small Business Loans and CDBG funds being distributed on behalf ofbusinesses. A tourism district was formed and we saw the beginning of theannual BIC Golf Classic, which supports the Milford Trust scholarship program.The Chamber stepped in to aid the United Way in efforts to assist familiesdisplaced by hurricane Sandy. The first ‘Restaurant Week’ was held with muchsuccess.

After 60+ years of service, your Chamber continues to be a place where a

diverse group of business leaders convene to collaborate, plan, and set goals toimprove the economic strength of our city. My seven months here have taught methat the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce is a positive force in thecommunity where strategies are directed toward making Milford a better place tolive, work, and play.

As always our door is open, stop in for a visit.

Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce | (203) 878-0681 | www.milfordct.com

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