Launching Formal Business Association Focus of March 15 Meeting

Forming a Barrington business association is the focus of a March 15 evening meeting in the Senior Center.

“Hopefully, we’ll get business owners to step up to the plate,” said Holly Smith, owner of on Maple Avenue, and a prime mover behind this attempt to get businesses working together for the benefit of everyone.

A previous informal business group did work for a while a few years ago, said Lois Coppolino, owner of on Maple Avenue, and another mover behind the March 15 effort. 

“We’re trying to formalize it now,” Coppolino said. “There never really was a group before. We need to charge dues and have regular meetings.”

The association will be open to any business in Barrington, both women said.

“I think it’s important for the town to be somewhat involved as well,” said Smith, who serves on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Smith said she has sent emails and made phone calls to invite every business on a list provided by the Newport and Bristol County Convention Bureau, which covers Barrington now. The Barrington Times also ran a brief about the meeting.

“We need to take advantage of events like the CVS golf tournament and sailing events and other activities,” Smith said.

She believes that taking best advantage of these local events can only happen if businesses work together in an organized and focused fashion.

To provide some insight into how the Bristol Downtown Merchants group operates, Smith said, a member of that association, Linda Arruda, will speak at the meeting.

“We’ve done sleigh rides and we’ve been involved in the illumination during the holidays,” Smith said of Barrington businesses.

But more of that involvement needs to be done for the benefit of everyone, said Smith. She hopes the March 15 meeting is the start of this new effort. The meeting begins at 7 pm.