|
|
What is PRIDE?
PRIDE is an acronym that stands for Portland
Revitalization Inc. Developing Excitement!
It is an active forum of concerned citizens who have pooled their
talents for the economic development of Main Street. It can be likened to a
merchant's association, only many of the volunteers are not Main Street
business people, but local residents volunteering who care about their
town.
Their mutual goal is to enhance the economic vitality of this very
important district.
Because of its strategic location between the Arrigoni Bridge and
the turning of Route 66, the business area of Main Street provides the
primary visual experience people get while traveling through Portland -- in
affect, their first impression of the entire town! It is therefore to the
interest of all residents that Main Street is attractive and alive with
healthy commerce. There is a symbiosis that needs to be recognized here.
Main Street represents the heart of Portland.
A number of shops are located here, just a few hundred yards from
the Portland Quarries, now designated as a National Landmark. The
livelihood of these business-owners depends on attracting customers to
visit. With this in mind, members of PRIDE believe that Main Street is not
so much a convenient location for dozens of separate business entities, but
rather a single entity of interdependent businesses uniting to maintain a
vibrant community marketplace -- distinctly Portland!
To accomplish this, Main Street has to faithfully represent and
express the essence of our town, both past and present. This involves
integrating qualities that reflect some of the unique aspects of Portland's
history, including river commerce, ship-building, and the scenic brownstone
quarries.
Because Portland is somewhat sequestered by the Connecticut River
(which defines half its border), it retains much of its old time
characteristics despite its central Connecticut location. This quaint
Yankee ambiance is part of its charm, something that local businesses need
to express in a concerted manner. Accomplishing this is part of the mission
of PRIDE -- creating a destination point for local as well as
out-of-town customers who want to experience some of that magic from New
England's past.
Interested in joining? Call Mike Giuliano at 860-342-0814.
|
|
|
