Plainville Chamber Taking Steps To Rebuild, Improve

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

June 29, 2021

Quinn Wazorko Christopher, co-president of the Plainville Chamber of Commerce with her sister Tabitha Wazorko Manafort, said that major steps have been taken to rebuild and improve the local Chamber.

Christopher said that, under she and her sister’s leadership, organization has improved at the Chamber, which has an office space located in the Municipal Center. In addition, the Chamber has now grown to 125 members, which includes both new and returning local businesses.

“We are a better chamber, one that is providing daily social media advertising, mainstream media coverage, and networking opportunities that we plan to grow now that we are ready to staff the office and resume chamber activities,” said Wazorko Christopher. “We want to be a resource not only to the business community but all of Plainville. The chamber is a valuable tool, and we want it to be the community's go-to.”

The Plainville Chamber of Commerce has held several recent ribbon cutting events for new businesses. These, Wazorko Christopher said, have been well received by town businesses.

“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback,” she said. “The businesses really appreciate it.”

The Chamber is also working on bringing back community events, such as Business After Hours. In the past, the Chamber has also had a “Pizza Feud” with local restaurants and an annual golf tournament. Wazorko-Christopher said that Chamber leadership is also discussing creating new events.

“Next year I plan for us to have at least three or four events and more after hours events,” said Wazorko Christopher. “Those were big – a local business would sponsor it and invite other Chamber members. It was a great way for Chamber members to interact and network with each other.”

In order to fund these community events, the Chamber has launched a new fundraiser. They are selling raffle tickets to Chamber members and plan to feature the 12 winners, one each month, in a 2022 calendar. These calendars will then be provided free of charge to current and new town residents. The winners will be pulled at the Chamber’s September meeting.

“The calendar will have a full directory with business names and phone numbers,” said Wazorko Christopher. “We'll put some at town hall and ask real estate agents to pass them out when sell houses. It will be nice to have, especially if you’re new to town, to have a directory of essential businesses. Once we have our 12 winners, we will go out and take pictures and the calendars should start to get passed out in December.”

Raffle tickets are available by calling 860-747-6867.

For more information, visit plainvillechamber.com or facebook.com/plainvillectchamber

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.