Community Business Expo Enjoys Wonderful Weather

This was the first Community Business Expo held in Chi Bro Park.

The weather co-operated with the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce and its 8th annual Community Business Expo last Thursday in Chi-Bro Park. Held in conjunction with the Farmers Market, 23 local businesses and non-profit community service organizations had booths presenting what they have to offer to the community. The Manchester High School Jazz Band entertained the crowd from the pavilion, and the kids enjoyed a well supervised bounce house.

Expo organizer Ray Berg stated that both exhibitors and visitors liked the park ambiance better than the previous Adrian Street location and that more shade and green grass made for a more natural and cooler setting than pavement surrounded by buildings. They also appreciated that kids could play in the park's playground and the bounce house and not be concerned about traffic in nearby streets. The Jazz Band and band parents both preferred the Chi Bro because of the pavilion and convenient seating for spectators.

Berg noted that there was some concern beforehand that the slope and grade changes in the ground could cause issues with walkers but it was not a problem. Parking did get very tight at peak times even though exhibitors parked off the main parking lot. Berg stated that they may need to figure other parking schemes for next year.

The Manchester Chamber of Commerce has been discussing expo experiences with their colleagues in Grass Lake, Chelsea and Tecumseh, who now conduct their community expos indoors on spring weekends. These communities have seen larger attendance with these changes. The Manchester Chamber will examine the possibility of making similar changes to their annual expo during the coming year.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.