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Greetings!
March has been a busy month! We've welcomed the warmer weather with a flurry of activity (but prayed for no actual snow flurries)! March has brought renewed connections with community members and groups, a completed Business Directory and continued partnership with the International Institute of Boston's Bridges to Business program. Here's the scoop: |
Broad Street Informational Meeting 
A meeting was held on March 21 at On The Go Laundromat located at 306 Broad St. It was put on by the Broad Street Regeneration Initiative (BSRI), Blackstone Valley Merchants Association (BVMA) and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC).
The meeting was celebratory, recognizing the BVMA's third year organizing and connecting small businesses to each other and resources; informational, highlighting the BSRI's Micro-Enterprise Grant Policy, the International Institute's Bridges to Business classes for small business owners and the City of Central Falls' April 23 Earth Day clean up event; and inaugural, welcoming A-Fast Tax Services, World Travel and Izulec Salon into the BVMA.
Attendees included Broad Street business owners, Central Falls Councilman James Diossa of Ward 4, BVTC and BSRI staff, and residents of Central Falls, Pawtucket and Cumberland. |
The Shops on Broad - Business Directory Up and Running 
Throughout the winter, Caitlin and Myles were out braving the cold weather to visit businesses along Broad Street. The information gathered from the community was used to create the newest feature of the website - The Directory. This interactive feature allows users to locate specific businesses along Broad Street by category: Auto, Beauty, Food & Beverage, Grocery, Health, Miscellaneous Services, Professional Services, and Retail. We hope that this will help visitors to quickly find the information that they are looking for. Check it out and let us know what you think. And of course, be sure to stop by the shops on Broad! |
Farming in the Community: An Update on New Urban Farmers 
We were delighted to meet with Emily and Bleu of the New Urban Farmers (NUF), a group dedicated to the renewal of farming throughout Central Falls and Pawtucket through a variety of projects. One such project, Urban Auquaponics--a hydroponic tank system that houses fish and uses their waste to feed plants-- went before the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) committee in Pawtucket on March 10. NUF worked in conjunction with the Pawtucket Housing Authority (PHA) for the grant.
Last year, NUF requested and received funding from the CDBG for a Greenhouse, which will be built in upcoming weeks at their Galego Court community farm, coined the "Garden of Life." It will be a geodesic dome greenhouse, featuring three domes with diameters of 36 feet, 26 feet and 20 feet, from SunRise Domes, a local company. The 36 foot dome will house the aquaponics tank, which was created in collaboration with RISD's architecture department and Brown University.
For more information about the New Urban Farmers or to find out about upcoming events, check out their website at www.newurbanfarmers.com. |
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Reflections on the Bridges to Business Training
Broad Street business owners had a very positive response to February's Bridges to Business classes offered through the International Institute of Boston. Out of the twelve total people who participated in the classes, eight were Broad Street business owners. Here's a few of their responses:
Lucrecia Rubio, owner of Russel's Beauty Salon located at 537 Broad St.: "It was very good; the classes helped me learn how to manage my business better. I learned to put my business first."
Adalberto Garcia, owner of Garcia Insurance located at 539 Broad St.: "I learned how to keep track of my expenses better after taking these classes."
Alfonso Acevedo, editor-in-chief of America News and president of Blackstone Valley Merchants Association: "After being in business for so long, we get stuck in our ways and need to learn new ways of doing things. These classes help business owners do just that."
**For more information about upcoming classes in April and June, contact us at info@mybroadstreetri.com or call us in the office at 401-724-2200 |
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***NEW FEATURE: Broad Street Properties***
We are initiating a new program called Broad Street Properties to showcase properties available on Broad Street for rent or lease. If you would like your property featured or if you would like to find out about locating on Broad Street, please contact us at info@mybroadstreetri.com for more details. |
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Just as April showers bring May flowers, we ask for your continued support of Broad Street businesses. There's a lot out there to do, see, buy, eat and drink. Don't forget to 'like' us on Facebook and visit our website often to stay in line with the most up-to-date events and information.
Sincerely,
The Broad Street Regeneration Initiative
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council |
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Featured Business:
Dulce's Xpo Boutique | |
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