Main Street Waterbury

News Archive

Official Website

Mission

The Main Street Waterbury mission statement is

"To advocate, educate, and collaborate for the revitalization and enhancement of downtown Waterbury ... "

according to their website.

Board of Directors

President: Susan Sprano
Vice-President: Fund Development: Kathleen Natale
Vice-President: Advocacy: Bob Burns
Recording Secretary: Zachary Keith
Treasurer: Jim O’Rourke

Main Street Waterbury also has 14 other members on their Board of Directors, and four major committees:

Economic Vitality
Design
Organization
Promotion

Contact Information

No information on this topic is available at this time.

Pizza Express at 73 South Main Street has been serving up pies for nearly fifteen years. In addition to pizza, Nash, shown here, offers grinders, calzones and salads. Pizza Express also became Main Street Waterbury's Business of the Week on February 23rd, 2018. 20180223

Socks N Tops Outlet, located at 72 South Main Street has been a staple in Waterbury for years, providing everything from embroidery to screen printing. The business has recently passed to a new generation of ownership and promises to thrive for many more years in downtown Waterbury. Socks N Tops Outlet has been identified on February 16th, 2018 by Main Street Waterbury as their Business of the Week. 20180216

Moving to Waterbury with the purchase of Rollins Printing, Minuteman Press, at 170 Grand Street, provides an array of print-related products & services. Owner Michael Byrne fills a great need in Downtown, and Waterbury at-large, with his comprehensive and highly reputable services. Main Street Waterbury featured Minuteman Press on February 2nd, 2018 at it's Business of the Week. Stop in to see Matt Byrne and his father Pat at 170 Grand Street for your next printing need! 20180202

Michael Rinaldi has owned the unique Arabesque Costume Supplies at 113 Bank Street in Downtown Waterbury for 51 years. If you are looking for a costume, chances are Mike has it. From leotards to dance footwear, masquerade costumes to make up, Arabesque has been offering artistic supplies for a generation. Arabesque has been identified on February 9th, 2018 by Main Street Waterbury as their Business of the Week. 20180209

Located in the Jones Morgan Building at 96 Bank Street in Downtown Waterbury, SGNL Communications provides sales and service of communication solutions to Government Agencies and Business Enterprises throughout Connecticut and New England. SGNL also services the entire radio communications of the City of Waterbury including Police, Fire and EMT services. SGNL also has a new line of laser engraved products.
SGNL recently celebrated their second year in Downtown, and has been selected by Main Street Waterbury as their business of the week for January 26th, 20128. 20180126

Fill-a-Bag Success

Contributed Delivering food for those in need
Main Street Waterbury (MSW) staff member Dan Pesce and volunteer Paula Massey, delivered groceries to the Saint Vincent de Paul Mission in Waterbury on December 21st, 2017. MSW workers and volunteers delivered more than 150 bags of food to Saint Vincent de Paul, Waterbury Baptist Ministries and Greater Waterbury Interfaith Ministries as part of its “Fill-a-Bag” program. MSW solicits nonperishable food items from downtown offices and organizations, as part of an annual project by its Promotion Committee.

O'Rourke-Cookson Receives
Main Street Honor

20170815
Main Street Waterbury (MSW) announced that it has bestowed upon local community advocate and business owner Virginia"Ginny" O'Rourke-Cookson, their highest recognition: Community Partnership Award.

Carl Rosa, Chief Executive Officer of MSW, will present the award to O'Rourke-Cookson at the MSW 3rd Annual Awards presentation at the Palace Theater in Waterbury on Thursday, October 5th, 2017. The ceremony will occur between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
O'Rourke-Cookson is the owner of O'Rourke and Birch Florist on Freight Street in Waterbury. O'Rourke-Cookson, who also received a similar community advocacy award, Business of the Year, from Vincent E. Martinelli, President of the Waterbury Neighborhood Council (WNC), at the WNC dinner in 2015.

Martinelli is currently on the Board of Directors of MSW representing WNC. Although the criteria for each of these awards, and the process for choosing awardees, differs from MSW and WNC, Martinelli said "this shows a continuing interest and positive involvement in our community".

Aldermen Adopt Proposed Ordinance

August 21st, 2017
The City of Waterbury Board of Aldermen unanimously voted tonight to approve a panhandling ordinance. The ordinance, written and sponsored by Main Street Waterbury (MSW), defines prohibited acts as related to panhandling and penalties for panhandling offenses. In addition to the ordinance, MSW has a comprehensive plan which outlines the available resources to assist people in obtaining various services which commonly afflict those who tend to panhandle, education of and marketing for said resources, protection of rights to free speech and other rights, suggested practices and reactions of those whom have been or are panhandled, and more. Having such ordinance in place, as in other Connecticut cities, makes Waterbury more attractive to businesses, facilitates safety and perceived safety, allows police officers procedural authority, communicates the existence of valuable and essential resources to those in need, preserves the dignity of said individuals, enables donations to benefit said individuals without enabling donations to be misused, and raises the level of civil humanity throughout the City.
Many residents and community advocates attended the meeting, and about half of them spoke at the podium. The overwhelming majority spoke in favor of the ordinance, although a few cautioned on the delicacy of the human condition and need to proceed passionately. Richard Wood, Lawrence DePillo, Dan Pesce, and Vincent E. Martinelli were among the dozen or so concerned folks who spoke on the legislation which was crafted by Carl Rosa, Chief Executive Officer of MSW.
Noticeably absent from the meeting was any presence by the Waterbury Neighborhood Council (WNC), a once respected voice of neighborhoods and a former advocate of neighborhood rights and concerns.

Public Hearing Notice:

August 21, 2017, Monday, 6:30pm

A Public Hearing will be held at the Board of Aldermen meeting, City Hall - Cass Gilbert room, to discuss a proposal initiated by Main Street Waterbury (MSW) which addresses the City-wide concern of panhandling. The MSW proposal defines panhandling and prohibited acts as related to panhandling. The initiative also outlines proposed penalties for panhandling offenses, lists resources to assist people in obtaining various services which commonly afflict those who tend to panhandle, provides education of, and marketing for, said resources, encompasses protection of rights to free speech and other rights, outlines suggested best practices and reactions by those whom have been or are panhandled, and more. The Aldermen will address only the proposed ordinance at this meeting. Having such ordinance in place, as in other Connecticut cities, makes Waterbury more attractive to businesses, facilitates safety and perceived safety, allows police officers procedural authority, communicates the existence of valuable and essential resources to those in need, preserves the dignity of said individuals, enables donations to benefit said individuals without enabling donations to be misused, and raises the level of civil humanity throughout the City.