Norwalk Celebrates Grand Opening Of New Business Development Center

NORWALK, CT — Federal, state and local leaders celebrated the grand opening of Norwalk's new business development center during an event held Thursday afternoon.

Located at 3 Belden Avenue, the business development center is designed to be a continuous resource that various entrepreneurs and business owners can depend on throughout the life cycle of their businesses, according to city officials.

Along with Mayor Harry Rilling, state leaders in attendance during Thursday's event included U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congressman Jim Himes, Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff and State Rep. Lucy Dathan, among other local leaders.

"This is an exciting day for the city of Norwalk," Rilling said. "This is just another example of Norwalk's commitment to our business community. We don't care if you're a one-person business or a Fortune 500 company with 300 people, this is an area where you can come and gain access to the resources that businesses need in order to flourish and thrive."

Rilling also noted at least 400 businesses opened in Norwalk during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Jessica Vonashek, the city's chief of economic and community development, Norwalk has invested $1.3 million in funding toward the small business community since 2019, supporting over 80 businesses.

"We know that the health of the businesses depends on the health of [their] communities," Vonashek said, "and when we invest in our communities, we're investing in business."

The city plans to expand its reach by committing an additional $3.1 million to support the small business community by 2024.

Press material provided by the city Thursday described Norwalk's new business development center as an all-inclusive resource that provides services to support entrepreneurs and business owners, including financial education guidance, loan or grant application assistance and technical support for local, state and federal permitting and licensing.

"We have the opportunity to have staff onsite to be able to assist with local and state grants, be able to build business plans, business models, offer professional development training," Vonashek said, "and be able to offer residents and offer people in the region, as a whole, an opportunity to be able to take a dream that they may have stored for a very long time and actually make it a reality."

The center was made possible through federal and local revenue sources, including the American Rescue Plan Act, Community Development Block Grant funds and local funds, according to city officials.

The city also recently launched an economic development website where potential businesses can learn more about Norwalk and existing businesses can learn more about available resources for permitting and licensing.

"I think Norwalk really exemplifies what should be done not only to build businesses, but to strengthen communities," Blumenthal said, "because the kinds of businesses that will come here and grow and prosper are exactly the kinds of businesses that will strengthen the community."

Himes spoke highly of Norwalk's support of its business community and urged entrepreneurs and local business owners to be open with state leaders about what they need and ways the government can better assist them.

"Government can do some really good things in helping you out, it can also do some bad things," Himes said. "Sometimes we can get in the way, so we're inviting you...to tell us what else you need. Tell us what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong, because we need that economic vibrancy that you guys provide. There is no better program, no better way of lifting somebody up than providing that person with a job."