What’s new with the Tri-Town Chamber for April

It’s almost Easter and things have been hopping at the Tri Town Chamber of Commerce offices at Mansfield Crossing. Our recently completed Home Show at the Mansfield Holiday Inn was so successful highlighting local talent that several exhibiting companies have already booked booths for next year.

The may have been the first major event of the season, but it is hardly the last. , the Chamber’s annual fundraiser, is scheduled for Thursday, May 5th at Showcase Live in Foxboro. This event is open to the public and offers literally something for everyone, including a variety of gaming tables: Roulette, Craps, Blackjack, the Wheel of Fortune and Texas Hold’em; drawings; live music and more. Tickets are available through the Chamber and at several area locations. Thanks to Mansfield Bank for stepping up as our Presenting Sponsor, and to Mansfield Crossing and Deutsche Bank Championship for helping out as Royal Flush Sponsors.

While the Tri-Town Chamber runs a variety of community events, we are not entirely an events organization. Our core mission is to bring business people together to improve the economic well-being of their organizations and thereby improve the quality of life in the communities of Foxboro, Mansfield and Norton. The Tri-Town Chamber offers programs to help local businesses succeed and to influence and communicate issues that affect local business. The Chamber also helps communities directly, through support and volunteerism.

While it is the smallest of our three towns, Norton may be the busiest recently! Not only is the town celebrating its 300th birthday this year, but local leaders are also moving forward on plans to expand Norton High School

Tri Town Chamber Executive Director Kara Griffin and I were invited to participate in a Norton 300 Parade Planning Committee meeting in February. As a result, the Chamber will show its support by marching in the parade; we also provided a booth at our recent Home Show to promote the event. 

The Architects hired for the Norton High School Building Project hosted two dozen members of the Tri Town leadership team at a March 7th presentation at Trinity Bar and Restaurant.  Kara gave the opportunity to the Norton Public Schools Superintendant Patricia Ansay and her team to present the project at the Chamber’s March director’s meeting to garner support for the measure before the special election in June.

State Representatives Elizabeth Poirier, Jay Barrows and Steven Howitt were all enthusiastic participants throughout the evening. As is the case at Chamber events, the three made themselves available to all attendees to discuss issues of the day, whether related to the school or not.

The Chamber Economic Development Committee is making arrangements for the first of what we hope will be several meetings between the committee and our three fairly-new town managers. We are excited to work with Kevin Paicos of Foxborough, Bill Ross of Mansfield and Norton’s Michael Yuntis to help build even more prosperity in the area.

The Tri Town Chamber is also involved in several charitable events in April. The Chamber will field a team for Keep Mansfield Beautiful's’4th annual Great American Cleanup on April 30th. Kudos go out to founder and Chamber member Neil Rhein for starting and diligently managing this event. As Mansfield residents, I know we all appreciate your efforts daily.

Kara, a past chair for Mansfield’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life Committee, continues for a 7th year organizing the all-volunteer Tri-Town Chamber Team.  Plans are also in the works for supporting another fine birthday tradition, Foxborough Founders’ Day on June 11th.

Many local businesses might not be aware that the Chamber has offices for rent. Our friendly staff, great ambience and terrific location near the intersection of routes 95 and 495 makes it ideal for a small business or a large enterprise looking for a local presence. Inquiries are welcome. Call the chamber at 508 339 5655 for details.

As President of the Board for the Tri Town Chamber of Commerce, I invite residents and local businesses reading the local Patch.com pages comes to visit us during a chamber event or charity function. If you can’t make it in person, please join our groups on LinkedIn and on Facebook. We want to hear what you have to say!

John Bates is the President of the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce and operates Job-Guy, a career coaching practice in Mansfield. Since joining the Chamber in 2005, John has also helped out as an Ambassador and as Vice President for Membership Development.