Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is encouraging residents to shop local

Michelle Warren, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read

Dec. 8—WILLIMANTIC — As businesses continue to recuperate from the pandemic, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is encouraging Connecticut residents to support small businesses during the holiday season.

Speaking about the advantages of shopping locally, Bysiewicz said when you support a small business, you can get an item you won't get anywhere else. " Most of every dollar that you spend stays in the community," she said, speaking during a tour of Willimantic businesses on Wednesday.

According to Bysiewicz's office, an average of $ 0.67 of every dollar that is spent at local businesses stays in the community.

The tour was led by Thread City Development P r e s i d e n t / H o r i z o n s President and Chief Executive Officer Chris McNaboe. Windham Mayor Thomas DeVivo, Windham Town Manager Jim Rivers, Windham Town Council President Dawn Niles and others also participated in the tour.

The group visited Grounded Coffee Company, Trigo Wood Fired Pizza & Kitchen, Willimantic Brewing Co., Spiral Arts Studio, Jewels Verne Jewelers, Yono Yoga and Meditation, Eminence Ink and the Willimantic Food Co- op. During her tour, Bysiewicz spoke to the variety of small businesses in Willimantic.

" It's incredible," she said. " The food and restaurant scene is fantastic and it's going to be even better when Trigo opens." According to owner Patrick Griffin, Trigo is expected to open in mid- January.

" This place has such a great vibe already," Rivers said while inside the restaurant, noting that he was looking forward to dining there.

Bysiewicz spoke about the charitable endeavors of small business owners.

That includes Willimantic Brewing Co. owner David Wollner and the owners of Eminence Ink. Wollner runs Hop Fest, which raised $36,000 this year alone, and is involved with several other fundraisers in town. The owners of Eminence Ink, Milimar " Millz Marley" Cambrelen and Rene " Fame" Montalvo, support local schools by donating school supplies to the as well as hosting a back- toschool event. Bysiewicz has also visited small businesses in Bristol and plans to visit businesses in Norwich and Norwalk. As some noted during the tour, the pandemic has had a significant impact on small businesses, many of which are still recuperating.

In some cases, the pandemic caused businesses to close or cut back hours.

" It was very difficult for the restaurants because of all the restrictions and the requirements being inside," McNaboe said. 62 small

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