SVI PHOTO/AUBREY HALE
The Town of Afton will host a business community roundtable on October 14, giving local business owners an opportunity to discuss concerns, successes and ways the town can better support the business community.
The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the large rooms at the Afton Civic Center. Town Administrator Violet Sanderson said the quarterly meetings are intended to restore regular communication between the town and local businesses.
“Every quarter we’ve been trying to reinstate and have a business community roundtable discussion meeting where we’ve invited all the local businesses to come in and communicate with the town,” Sanderson said.
The purpose is not simply for the town to deliver updates, she said. Instead, the agenda is meant to be shaped by businesses and their experiences during the previous quarter.
“Our agendas are kind of tailored to hearing from the local businesses,” Sanderson said. “What has gone well in the last quarter, what happened that helped you out with our events, some of the tourist attractions, what are some of the pitfalls you have, some of the roadblocks that might be in place currently, [and] how we might be able to better assist the businesses.”
Sanderson emphasized that the town does not view the roundtable as a way to subsidize private businesses. Rather, the meetings are intended to create a practical working relationship among the town, merchants and other employers.
“Not because we should be supplementing them in any way, but we are a community, we all need to work together and we’re on the same team,” she said.
The discussion can include the impact of town events, visitor activity, infrastructure concerns and other issues affecting local commerce. Sanderson said hearing directly from business owners helps town officials understand what is working and where barriers may exist.
“We really appreciate the opportunity we have to hear from the businesses,” she said.
The roundtable is open to local businesses and is part of the town’s effort to maintain a regular forum for collaboration. Businesses can use the meeting to share feedback, raise concerns and discuss opportunities to strengthen Afton’s commercial activity and community events.
“We’re on the same team,” Sanderson said. “We really appreciate the opportunity we have to hear from the businesses.”
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