Town And EDC Hand Out Business Awards

Mayor Adam Salina and the Berlin Economic Development Commission recently gave out several awards to business in town. The awards ceremony took place at the Baltic Restaurant on New Britain Road in Berlin.  

It is very important to Berlin residents that the quality of public spaces and development projects reflects favorably on the attractiveness of the community. The Berlin Veterans Memorial Park Project is a work in process but it is already a classic example of the effort to make the center of Berlin more inviting. Veteran’s Memorial Park is built on the site of a former landfill and Town Public Works storage yard. As the Town reached the stage of constructing phase I of the project there was a funding shortfall. We didn’t have enough money to build a gazebo that was envisioned to be one of the focal points of the new park. Very fortunately for the community, the Berlin Lions Club learned of our dilemma and they stepped up and built the gazebo that now graces the park. That is why they are awarded the Beautification Award. This donation was particularly important to the Berlin Lions Club because the Club wanted to recognize and in a small way give something back to it past and present members who are veterans of the armed services and to all Berlin residents who have served their country.

"It should be no surprise that the Berlin Lions Club would step up to contribute the gazebo for Veterans Park," Salina said. "The Berlin Lions Club has been serving the community in countless ways since it was founded in 1941. The iconic Berlin Fair was started by the Lions in 1948 and it became one of the Club’s major fundraising tools. On the Club’s web site they tell us that “whenever a Lions club gets together, problems get smaller and communities get better. That's because we help where help is needed – in our own communities and around the world – with unmatched integrity and energy.” That statement is certainly true in Berlin." 

The Business of the Year Award is presented to a company that has made a significant investment in Berlin. This year the Business of the Year Award is being presented to ASSA ABLOY’s Berlin operations.

"ASSA ABLOY has been significant to Berlin in many ways since it bought Corbin Russwin in 2000," Salina said. "The company is a regular fixture on the Town’s lists of largest taxpayers and largest employers -- with a current head count of over 400 employees. At 800,000 square feet situated on over 100 acres, it is the largest industrial building in Town although you might hardly notice it because it is set back from both Episcopal Road and Deming Road and well buffered by the topography and landscaping."

The Developer of the Year Award is presented to a developer that has undertaken a significant project in Berlin. Annually the award recognizes a high quality project that enhances the Town’s tax base and that contributes to the overall community. This year Cedar Realty Trust is being presented the Developer of the Year Award for its revitalization of The Brickyard.

"Cedar Realty Trust is a publicly traded REIT that owns 67 primarily grocery-anchored shopping centers and nearly 10 million square feet of retail space in the Washington DC to Boston Corridor," Salina said. "The company is keenly focused on redevelopment opportunities within its current portfolio and The Brickyard is a prime example of such redevelopment."

The first new business of the year award for 2013 is being presented to Kohl’s. 

"Kohl’s opened its Berlin store on September 26, 2012 and that was a happy day in Berlin," Salina said. "The store fulfilled a wish of many of our residents to have a major new national department store so that they could shop locally for clothing, gifts and many other items. In addition it is equally important that Kohl’s has created 90 jobs in Berlin."

The second new business of the year award for 2013 is being presented to CzepigaDaly. 

"CzepigaDaly is a well-known law firm established in 1998 by long-time resident Paul Czepiga," Salina said. "The firm, with its four attorneys, provide estate planning, elder law, probate and special needs trusts services. Unlike many firms of its kind, their expertise extends beyond just law and having the right documents in place."

The Small Business of the Year Award is a new award started this year and the first recipient is MidState Air Compressors and its owners Carol and Sal Calvo. The award is intended to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of a Berlin small business. 

"Carol and Sal have Berlin roots so when they decided to start their business in January of 2010 they located it on Deming Road. 2010 was certainly not an easy time to start a business," Salina said. "By applying their specialized expertise in the Air Compressor field and by hard work they have successfully launched their business. They have six employees and are in the process of hiring another so MidState is already fulfilling the vital job creating role of small businesses! In his 'spare time' Sal is a Berlin Volunteer Fireman and he is the Den Leader of an East Berlin Cub Scout Troup."

The annual Volunteer of the Year Award of the Economic Development Commission is presented to an individual who has contributed substantial time and energy on a volunteer basis in the Town of Berlin. This year the EDC has chosen to present the award to Dave Cyr.

"Dave is a proud lifelong resident of Berlin where he resides with his wife Karen and their children Kaitlyn and Matthew," Salina added. "When Kaitlyn and Matthew attended St. Paul’s School, Dave served for six years on the Board of St. Paul’s School, three of those years as its Chairman. Dave is also a member of St. Paul’s parking and building committees."