Stamford Nonprofit Celebrates Opening Of New HQ After Fire Damaged Former Office

STAMFORD, CT — The Women's Business Development Council celebrated the opening of its new headquarters at 422 Summer St. in Stamford on Tuesday, marking its return to a permanent location in the city nearly 18 months after a fire displaced the organization from its former Bedford Street office.

WBDC clients, supporters, community partners, business leaders and elected officials attended the grand opening, which featured remarks, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the new 5,000-square-foot space.

Subscribe

Attendees included U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, state Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons and state Rep. Eilish Collins Main. They delivered remarks following an introduction from WBDC Chief Executive Officer Fran Pastore.

WBDC clients Louise Joseph of Dough Girls Pizza Truck and Jamie Torns of Growing Minds Collective also discussed their work with the organization and its impact on their businesses.

"Stamford has always been our home," said Pastore, according to a news release. "A fire displaced us, but it did not stop our work or our commitment to Connecticut's women entrepreneurs. This new office gives our team, clients, and partners a place to come together, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who stood with us and helped us reach this day."

The opening marks a milestone in WBDC's recovery from the four-alarm fire that damaged its former second-floor office at 184 Bedford St. and several neighboring downtown businesses on March 7, 2025.

While operating without a permanent Stamford location, WBDC continued providing advice, education, funding opportunities and other resources to women entrepreneurs and small-business owners across Connecticut.

The new location, which has an entrance near 17 Franklin St., will serve as a home base for the organization's team in southwestern Connecticut.

Founded in Stamford in 1997, WBDC has grown from its local roots into a statewide organization serving entrepreneurs in all 169 Connecticut municipalities.