WORKSHOPS

Chelsea Groton has kicked off a free 13-week small business series for aspiring and established entrepreneurs. “Cultivating Great Business” is offered through the bank’s financial literacy education program, Chelsea University. The instructor-led curriculum was developed jointly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Each class will be delivered by local area professionals. Classes meet on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. at the Center Groton Branch. 1319 Gold Star Highway, Groton.

The Montville Economic Development Commission and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Small Business Resource Forum at Montville High School Cafeteria, Sept. 24, 6-9 p.m. Information and networking with federal, state and local agencies will be available. These include: Small Business Administration, Montville Economic Development Commission; Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT; Small Business Development Center; CT Economic Resource Center; SE CT Enterprise Region; SCORE; Foundry 66; and Signature Properties of New England. The moderated forum will provide agency overviews and time for visiting table displays. For more information or to register, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

SCORE will host:

"QuickBooks: Advanced & Hands-On," Wednesday, Sept. 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m., East Lyme Public Library, 39 Society Road, Niantic.

"Fundamentals of Starting or Growing Your Business, #1: What's the Big Idea?"; Session One of our free 5-Session Small Business Workshop Series, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m., United Bank, 654 Long Hill Road, Groton; presenters are Arlene Saffron, Eric Munro and Anne Driscoll.

“Fundamentals of Starting or Growing Your Business, #2: Customer and Competition,” Wednesday, Oct. 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m., United Bank, 654 Long Hill Road, Groton; presenters are Arlene Saffron, Eric Munro and Anne Driscoll. 

“Fundamentals of Starting or Growing Your Business, #3: Marketing and Sales Basics,” Wednesday, Oct. 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m., United Bank, 654 Long Hill Road, Groton; presenters are Arlene Saffron, Eric Munro and Anne Driscoll.

For more information contact Anne Driscoll at anne.driscoll@scorevolunteer.org.

The Women’s Business Development Council will host “Personal Finance Counseling,” Samantha Cross, coach, on Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., WBDC, 300 State St, Ste. 419, New London. Programs are free. Register at www.ctwbdc.org or contact Susan Hackett at shackett@ctwbdc.org.

NETWORKING

Young Professionals of Eastern Connecticut are hosting a Sip and Share Seminar on Mastering Your Money, Sept. 27, 7:45-9 a.m. at Muddy Waters Café in New London. Guest speaker Thomas Curtin, Financial Advisor with Charter Oak Retirement and Investment Services, will share some of the top tips for “financial wellness” as a young adult, such as managing debt, planning for short and long-term goals, and money management skills. To learn more about The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT’s Young Professionals or the Sip and Share workshop, visit www.YPECT.com or call 860-701-9113.

Arts, Culture and Tourism Regional “Fam Tour,” designed to familiarize hospitality professionals with offerings around the region, will be held September 30, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. This professional development opportunity includes tours of the Submarine Force Library and Museum, Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, The Kate, Saybrook Point Inn, Black Hall Outfitters, Saltwater Farm Vineyard, and Jeffrey P’an Studios. Transportation is provided between all venues. The tour is open to all tourism industry frontline and leadership staff at no charge. Space is limited. To learn more, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host a Business After Hours at SuperCharged Indoor Karting and Trampoline Park in Montville, Oct. 2, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening at SuperCharged, powered by Mohegan Sun, and network with fellow professionals while enjoying food, drinks, and chances to win door prizes donated by Chamber members. The track will be open, so if you would like to race, wear flat, closed-toe shoes. Registration is $15 for members, $25 for nonmembers before Sept.r 30, with an additional $5 after. For more information or to register, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will be at David Hecht Custom Kitchens, 154 Cross Road, Waterford, Oct. 4, 8-9:30 a.m. for Coffee with the Chamber. For more information, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Coffee Break with Eric Gjede, CBIA VP from Government Affairs, on Wednesday, Oct. 8 from 8-9 a.m. at the New London County Mutual Insurance, 101 High St., Norwich. $5 members and $10 non-members. Continental breakfast will be provided. For more information, visit www.norwichchamber.com or call (860) 887-1647.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will host its Annual Sunset Dessert Cruise aboard Cross Sound Ferry's high-speed ferry on Sept. 25, 5-8 p.m. Enjoy sampling treats from Mohegan Sun, Ivy's Simply Homemade, the Celiac Epicurean, Flanders Fish Market. Reservations are $35 person. To learn more or make a reservation, visit www.ChamberECT.com/dessert or call 860-701-9113.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Fall Foodie Fun event on Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Maple Lanes Park, 45 Bozrah Road, Bozrah. $15 GNACC members and $20 non-members. For more information, visit www.norwichchamber.com or call (860) 887-1647.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Career Expo on Friday, Oct. 25 from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 10 Laura Boulevard, Norwich. The chamber is looking for businesses and manufacturers to meet with students throughout the day. For questions or to attend, contact Angela Adams at (860) 887-1647 or angelaadams@norwichchamber.com. Visit www.norwichchamber.com/events for more details.

EVENTS

The Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors is hosting a free energy efficiency fair Sept. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Foundry 66 in Norwich. Attendees will learn how to manage energy use in their homes or businesses. Seminars on energy efficiency, smart home technology, home energy savings and financing will take place. Vendors include AdvantaClean of Windham, CT Green Bank, Eastern CT Savings Bank, Lantern Energy, LLC, Norwich Public Utilities, and R&W Heating. Food and beverage will be provided. To RSVP, call 860-892-2595 or email info@easternctrealtors.com.

Applications for the Mystic Chamber of Commerce's Groton Fall Festival are open. The festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Poquonnock Plains Park. Register for a booth at www.mysticchamber.org or call 860-572-9578.

Registration is open for the Mystic Holiday Lighted Boat Parade. Registration fee is a new or like new toy/jacket. Items will be donated to the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center. To register your boat, visit www.mysticchamber.org or call 860-572-9578.

The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is registering restaurants for 2019 Mystic Restaurant Week (Nov. 4-10). Visit www.mysticchamber.org or call 860-572-9578.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host the Annual Healthy Living Festival on Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Dodd Stadium, 14 Stott Ave., featuring free flu shots and additional healthcare screenings, distracted driving course, free kids bike helmets (while supplies last), petting zoo, reptile show and tell, car seat safety check-up, AMBER Alert, and K9 demonstration. Still accepting applications for vendors. SEAT Bus will be available to and from event. For more information, visit www.norwichchamber.com or call (860) 887-1647.

AWARDS

The Coastal Chapter of BNI in Waterford recently won best production video at the annual convention in Hartford on Sept. 5. Visit www.coastalbni.com to see the complete member directory. BNI meets every Tuesday at 7:15 a.m. at Charter Oak FCU headquarters in Waterford.

Rite-Solutions, Inc. has been awarded a second Innovation Voucher by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation as part of the Rhode Island Innovation Initiative program. The program helps businesses tap into the native R&D capacity in the state. Rhode Island enterprises with fewer than 500 employees can receive grants to fund R&D assistance from a Rhode Island university, research center, or medical center. Rite-Solutions has an office in Pawcatuck. For more information, visit www.rite-solutions.com. 

GRAND OPENING

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will host Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Taphouse Craft Kitchen & Beer and River Ridge Golf Course on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at River Ridge, 259 Preston Road, Griswold. No charge. For more information, visit www.norwichchamber.com/events or call (860) 887-1647.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will help Stifel celebrate their move to 38 East Main St., Mystic, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 26, 9-10 a.m. For more information, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT will celebrate the opening of the new Waterford office of Eastern Connecticut Ear, Nose & Throat and The Center for Facial Cosmetics at 914 Hartford Tpke., Waterford, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 26, 4-6 p.m. For more information, visit www.ChamberECT.com/events or call 860-701-9113.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT welcomes its newest members: Southeastern Connecticut Women's Network; The ECHO Cancer Foundation, Inc.; and The Baker's Dozen in Gales Ferry. Visit www.ChamberECT.com to discover a full Chamber member directory.

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