MONROE, CT — Monroe Chamber of Commerce members celebrated successes of the past year, including a new and improved website, during its annual Holiday Luncheon at Country Pizza on Dec. 10.
The event included a Winter Emoji Game, Fact or Flake trivia and raffles. First Selectman Terry Rooney gave an economic update, while expressing optimism for the new year.
Rooney recalled how Economic and Community Development Director William Holsworth recently shared statistics showing Monroe had more than 60 new businesses that opened in the past year, creating an estimated 300 new jobs.
The first selectman credited Town Hall staff and the hard work of volunteers on the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Monroe Economic Development Commission for making businesses feel welcome.
“All the businesses in town are needed,” Rooney said. “Every time another one opens up, it’s another benefit and another option, whether it’s a restaurant, whether it’s a store, an auto-repair shop, these businesses are being used.”
“They’re not always pizza places and liquor stores, although I always say, ‘if the pizza places are surviving, that means people are going to them, because they would not be in business unless people used them,'” he said.
He told luncheon guests that Trader Joe’s, which many residents had wanted, has committed to Shelton. “We don’t know if that’s going to happen for sure,” Rooney said. “There is talk of Trader Joe’s looking in Newtown, but we have the Aldi and we have some other things that opened up.”
“We have some exciting things coming to town,” Rooney said. “I’m very excited to see what’s going to happen in the next year. The town of Monroe is working very hard to make sure we see those businesses here, get those tax dollars and get those services that we all want.”
In past years, the first selectman said officials had heard that you can’t do business in Monroe.
“It’s very different now and it’s going to continue to get better,” Rooney said. “We have a lot of large projects we’re looking at in the industrial and the retail sector.”
Rooney praised Holsworth and Chamber President Ray Giovanni for their positive contributions to the town’s economic growth. “There’s a big difference here and I’m thankful to be a part of it,” he said.
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