Month: March 2015

3/31/2015 MBI Class

IMG_20150331_112148[1]Today, the MBI class welcomed Dr. Paulette Trowers-Lawrence, a self-published author, songwriter and founder of CHEETAh Toys & More.  The information she gave the class has the students on the edge of their seats.  Paulette discussed her many products including, the new BagOfBaggings Android Tablet, Cheetah sing-along books and her dancing characters.  In addition, Paulette discussed how her vision for connecting higher education has helped her launch the Cheetah line of toys.  Students were able to interact with sample tablets and provide feedback to the business owner for the next generation of tablets the business is planning to release soon.  At the end of the class, the speaker had the students write an Amazon.com review of the products they tested.  Paulette is a true entrepreneur with more than a dream, we thank her for a very engaging and inspiring presentation.

3/24/2015 MBI Class

Todays Micro Business Incubator class had a special guest.  The class welcomed University of Hartford’s president, Walter Harrison.  He shared with the class the history of the University of Hartford’s efforts in community development through the collaboration of Upper Albany Main Street.  He explained that the University’s vibrant relationship with the greater Hartford community was a hallmark of his leadership.  The class was very interactive and engaged and asked the president supportive questions regarding his time at the University.  The class thanked President Harrison for taking time out his busy schedule to be with them.

Connecticut Main Street Communities Receive 2015 National Main Street Accreditation

CT-Main-Street-LOGOHartford, CT – Connecticut Main Street Center has announced that four Connecticut communities have achieved accreditation from the National Main Street Center for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its partners announce the list of accredited Main Street programs, which have demonstrated exemplary commitment to historic preservation and community revitalization through the Main Street Four Point Approach®. The Connecticut Main Street Designated programs that have earned accreditation for their 2014 performance are New London, Simsbury, Upper Albany-Hartford, and Waterbury. The announcement was made at the National Main Streets Conference in Atlanta on Monday.  “Connecticut’s accredited Main Street programs have worked diligently to meet the standards established by the National Main Street Center, and we are pleased to see them recognized on a national level for their achievement,” said John Simons, President & CEO of Connecticut Main Street Center. “Local Main Street programs across our state work every day to bring jobs and businesses to their downtowns, which strengthens the overall economy of their communities and, in turn, that of Connecticut as a whole.”  “We congratulate this year’s nationally accredited Main Street programs for their outstanding accomplishment in meeting the National Main Street Center’s performance standards,” said Patrice Frey, president & CEO of the National Main Street Center. “Accredited Main Street programs create vibrant communities by using a comprehensive strategy to preserve their historic character and revitalize their commercial districts, which helps make these great places to work, live, play and visit.” Working in partnership with the National Main Street Center, Connecticut Main Street Center evaluates each of the state’s Designated Main Street Programs annually to identify those programs that meet ten performance standards. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program’s application of the Main Street Four Point Approach to commercial district revitalization. Evaluation criteria determine the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking programmatic progress and actively preserving historic buildings. More information is available at National Main Street Accreditation.

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National Main Street Center

Established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center helps communities of all sizes revitalize their older and historic commercial districts. Working in more than 2,200 downtowns and urban neighborhoods over the last 34 years, the Main Street program has leveraged more than $59.6 billion in new public and private investment. Participating communities have created 502,728 net new jobs and 115,381 net new businesses and have rehabilitated more than 246,158 buildings, leveraging an average of $33.28 in new investment for every dollar spent on their Main Street district revitalization efforts.  Connecticut Main Street Center The mission of CT Main Street Center is to be the champion and leading resource for vibrant and sustainable Main Streets as foundations for healthy communities. CMSC is dedicated to community and economic development within the context of historic preservation, and is committed to bringing Connecticut’s commercial districts back to life socially and economically.  The Main Street initiative is one of the most successful economic development programs in the country. For every $1 spent on a local Main Street program, $71.33 is reinvested in Connecticut Main Street downtowns. CMSC is supported by its Founding Sponsors, the Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) and Eversource. CMSC is also supported by its Growth Sponsors, UIL Holdings and the State Historic Preservation Office. More information is available at www.ctmainstreet.org

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Staff & Merchants Come Together For Customer Service Training

On Wednesday, 3/25/2015, Upper Albany Main Street hosted an interactive customer service training session with merchants from Albany Avenue.  In the two-hour role playing and simulation training course, Upper Albany staff trained business owners on the importance of customer service, forming first impressions, media & press releases, reading a customer’s body language, asking for the sale, upselling merchandise, hand shaking, the importance of building trust through eye contact and much more.  Merchants who are interested in their own training session should contact Upper Albany Main Street for more information.

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Upper Albany Hosting Business Expo

The Artists CollectiveIn light of recognizing 15 years of excellence, Upper Albany Main Street, Inc. is hosting a Business Expo on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at the Artists Collective on Albany Avenue from 9am to 3pm in the main atrium.  The event is open to all Hartford businesses.  To get involved, please contact Donna or Justin at (860) 727-9830.

Vivian Akuoko Presents For MBI Class

FOT7762Today the MBI class presented Vivian Akuoko, CEO of Evay Cosmetics.  She informed the class about her 30 years of business operations and experience in skin and hair care on Albany Avenue.  She told the group she decided to develop these products because women don’t spend enough time to care for their skin, and it is this reason she also introduced a line of breakthrough natural skin and hair care products.

She further informed the students that her products have helped to create jobs for many women in Africa and in other countries.  Vivian has been giving back and saw the need to assist women who have been involved in domestic violence.

She is currently working with Christopher Wright to develop a catalogue for Evay Cosmetics.  The class made some valuable contributions to the discussion and presented feedback on how the business can continue to market their products.