By Ruth Melville

In attempt both to support town businesses and to draw more people into the Hub, the Norfolk Foundation is starting a new program to showcase local home-based businesses.

Under this new policy, any current Hub member can sponsor a for-profit business to hold a two-hour open house at the Hub. This gives small local businesses a chance to present their wares in front of an audience. An added bonus for the business owner is that the Hub will promote the event in its publicity materials and email blasts. The only stipulation is that the for-profits must mention their sponsor in any of their own publicity.

The town Economic Development Commission (EDC) chose to sponsor the first such event on Saturday, June 22. On display in the Hub’s central gathering space was a large selection of Joe Hurst’s “On the Rocks” stonework, from polished stones to carved vessels and vases to wooden tables with stone slab inserts. Hurst works with several other local craftspeople in making his work, including silversmith Bret VanSeters, woodworker Chris Peterson, jeweler Jaye Giampalo, Tom Kind, who runs a countertop business, and John Bascetta, who does lettering and sandblasting on the vases.

Two satellite events that day helped to encourage people to stop and shop in Station Place. There was a trunk show of handmade clothing by Yasmine at 10 Station Place, and several artisans demonstrated their work at the Artisans Guild: woodturner Al Czellecz, beader and jeweler Donna Twardy, Doris Scherling, who makes children’s clothing, and Kathy Williams with her punch needle embroidery.

As part of this effort to broaden access to the Hub, the EDC is also providing an umbrella membership for any town board, commission or committee listed on the town website (norfolkct.org). Several of these organizations are too small to be able to pay for a full annual membership, but under the sponsorship of the EDC they will now be able to share in some Hub benefits. They can hold meetings in the Hub’s conference room during regular business hours and host one complementary event in the Hub, which the Hub will promote. In addition, mission-related materials such as brochures will be on display in the Hub. In May, the Conservation Commission held an event at the Hub, and the commission currently has on view there an exhibit on invasive plants.

For more information about this new program, contact Dawn Whalen at 850-542-7185, x251, or dawnwhalen@norfolkfoundation.net.