City supplies local businesses with COVID tests

MIDDLETOWN — As we enter the second full week of 2022, it is no secret that we are not where we expected to be when it comes to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Case rates, and unfortunately, hospitalizations, are both at very high and very concerning levels.

The chamber continues to do everything we can to support our membership and the business community at large throughout this challenging period. From the very beginning, we have pledged to do the best we can to be a constructive community partner as we battle this common foe together.

COVID test distribution

Just last week, we worked with our partners at the city of Middletown on the distribution of BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen self-test kits for the Middletown business community. As is commonly known, these tests are currently in very limited supply, so we tried to focus on businesses that come into contact with a significant number of people on a regular basis.

We were able to supply many local restaurants, retail establishments, and businesses from other industries with two kits, which contain two tests each.

I want to take a moment to thank Mayor Ben Florsheim, Acting Public Health Director Kevin Elak, and Emergency Management Director Rob Kronenberger for reaching out to our team and for always keeping the local business community in mind.

This effort follows up on vaccine and booster clinics held at the chamber in partnership with the city, distribution of PPE and other critical supplies, and of course, helping the business community access badly needed relief funds. We will continue to do the best we can to support the efforts of our partners in the public sector, and I know that better days are ahead for all of us.

Busy chamber calendar

This week is another busy one for the chamber team and for our membership. The chamber’s Executive Committee will hold its first meeting of the year Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. As I have noted many times over the years, our Executive Committee features a variety of local business and community leaders. Monday’s meeting will be led by our Chairwoman, Maureen Westbrook, and along with important updates on chamber activities, will feature updates from the public health and banking sectors in Middlesex County.

This meeting will also feature a discussion and ultimate adoption of the chamber’s 2022 public policy agenda.

On Tuesday, the chamber will continue the very successful KeyBank Workshop Series with a critically important session on sexual harassment prevention training. This session will be held virtually on the Zoom platform, and will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.

The definition of sexual harassment, liability, and the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace will be discussed, and the session meets state of

Connecticut requirements for employers.

We have over 60 already registered to attend, but other interested parties can visit middlesexchamber.com to register.

Finally, this week also features important virtual meetings of our Durham and Middlefield Division, Cromwell Division, Golf Committee, and Environment and Infrastructure Committee.

Shop grand opening

On the business development front, I look forward to joining Mayor Ben Florsheim and other local dignitaries for the grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration in honor of Reboot Eco on River Road in Middletown. This important event will be held on Friday morning at 9 a.m.

Reboot Eco is a zerowaste company that is working to support the fight for less waste, smaller carbon footprints, and more approachable and affordable sustainable options. Local entrepreneur Yasemin Ugurlu, a friend to many on the chamber team and throughout the community, offers refill stations for household cleaners and bath products.

She is truly committed to reducing the purchase of single use plastics and promoting the use of sustainable cleaning and bath products. As she worked to develop this important local business, Yasemin enlisted the help of the MEWS+, the chamber’s entrepreneur development initiative that works to support local entrepreneurs with their business concepts.

In fact, she was presented with the MEWS+ Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the chamber’s Small Business Awards in June 2021. We are proud of Yasemin and look forward to her event on Friday. We will continue to support her moving forward.

City retirement

I would like to close this week’s chamber column with some thoughts on Bill Russo, who recently retired as the Middletown Department of Public Works director and took on a similar position in the town of Cromwell. Bill served as director in Middletown for over 36 years.

He is an extremely dedicated public servant and is someone who clearly loves his home city. His legacy is clearly visible as you travel around Middletown. From the city’s parks and athletic fields, to the wonderful monuments dedicated to our veterans, to the boardwalk at Harbor Park, and much more, Bill certainly made his mark.

He especially shined as he led the department during cleanup from snowstorms and other weather events, and during major city-wide events when the public works teams was always there, and always ready.

I look forward to continuing our good work with Bill as he transitions to Cromwell, but I want him to know just how proud I am of the job he did in Middletown, and how grateful I am for his support of our chamber over the years. I am glad he is not going far.

The sun always shines in Middlesex County. Hang in there!