Chamber Boasts Active, Community-Orientated Membership

The Middlesex Chamber and its more than 2,350 member businesses have always made it a matter of practice to give back to the community. There has been a discussion about the fireworks celebration in Middletown over the past week and the role of the business community with our local public events.

What should be included in this discussion are the many great things that the Chamber and its member businesses do for Middletown and Middlesex County on a continual basis. The many businesses in Middletown and its downtown business community devote resources, finances and manpower to several major community events that occur throughout the year.

Most recently, the Chamber partnered with some truly great corporate citizens along with the City of Middletown to host the 14th annual Cruise Night on Main event in Middletown on June 15, led by event chairman Foster Charles. This event is one that the Chamber took over from the Downtown Business District and raised all of the funds.

Thousands of people — many of them families — enjoyed this free event. Without the generous support of each of our sponsors, an event of this scope would not be possible.

This month, event chairman Bob Holzberg will lead the Chamber’s efforts with the 7th annual Citizens Bank 5K Summer Fun Run, another great family event on July 20 in downtown Middletown.

Next month, the Chamber will spearhead a similar event with motorcycles: the 6th annual Middletown Motorcycle Mania led by chairman Rich Greco Aug. 10 on Main Street. This is another free event to the public that brings in 1,500 motorcycles with thousands of spectators. There is live music, entertainment and street vendors that sell food, drinks and treats.

To make it possible, there are a litany of sponsors that line up for this event and none of our member businesses ever shy away from their responsibility to the community.

During the summer, the Chamber also runs the Sponsor-A-Flag program, which is a way our local businesses can display the patriotism that a holiday like the Fourth of July is all about.

Our community events go on strong into the winter months as well.  From the day after Thanksgiving to the week that leads up to Christmas Day, the Chamber partners with local businesses and organizations to put on its Holiday on Main Street Series. 

As you all may know, this series offers family-oriented holiday fun  that includes breakfasts and pictures with Santa, hay rides, hot cocoa, and ornament-decorating workshops. The Chamber holds these activities every Saturday during the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas time.

The Chamber also helps to add spirit to the downtown Middletown area by running the a Holiday Lights on Main campaign where we provide festive outdoor lighting for the businesses that participate.

The proceeds of all of these events go directly back into the community. The Middletown Mentor Program which provides disadvantaged children with a mentor from the community and Middletown Park and Recreation’s programs for children are the beneficiaries of the funds that these events generate.

If there is simply no substitute for fireworks, one of our true pillars of the Middletown Community, Mark Masselli, has that base covered.  Mark and his organization, the Community Health Center are spearheading the first-ever Middnight on Main 2012 Dec. 31 on Main Street. This event is the first New Year’s Eve festival in the city’s history that will offer performers and entertainment from 3 p.m. to midnight.

Finally, a congratulations to the new Goodwill location in Cromwell on Route 372 for its grand opening July 7. Route 372 continues to be an attractive area for all businesses and an overall highly active corridor in our region.

For information, contact Matt Fraulino at (860) 347-6924 or matthew@middlesexchamber.com.