Annually, the West Haven Business Association, which is comprised of downtown businesses volunteer and donate hot chocolate and donuts for the City’s Holiday Tree Lighting.  They also collect donations for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Taskforce (W.H.E.A.T.).

Look for this jack-o’-lantern in the window of participating downtown businesses.
Participating Businesses:

A-Z Services Unlimited 362 Campbell Avenue
Allied Health and Rehabilitation 636 Campbell Avenue (located behind TD Bank)
American Cash Exchange 607 Campbell Avenue
Anthony John’s a Salon 403 Campbell Avenue
Be Thi Nail Salon 497 Campbell Avenue
Cameo Cleaners 441 Campbell Avenue
Campbell Gourmet 578 Campbell Avenue
Central Nails 569 Campbell Avenue
City TV & Appliance 489 Campbell Avenue
Community Connections 622 Campbell Avenue
Cristina’s Beauty Salon 427 Campbell Avenue
Curious Goods 415 Campbell Avenue
Flower Affair 529 Campbell Avenue
Four Burritos 340 Main Street
Globo Envios 571 Campbell Avenue
Gold Works 499 Campbell Avenue
INFO Center & Copy 501 Campbell Avenue
KCK Gallery 397 Campbell Avenue
Krauszer’s 377 Campbell Avenue
Leslie Jewelers 523 Campbell Avenue
Miracles a Salon 558 Campbell Avenue
NewAlliance Bank 322 Main Street
Off the Top Hair Studio 584 Campbell Avenue
Physicians Physical Therapy Aqua and Pt Sports Complex 544 Campbell Avenue
Premiere Barber Shop 391 Campbell Avenue
Rent-A-Center 567 Campbell Avenue
Ross Copy & Print 611 Campbell Avenue
Safari A.H.B. & Beauty Supply 576 Campbell Avenue
Saint Jude’s 417 Campbell Avenue
Sawdust Joe’s 447 Campbell Avenue
Silver Dollar 519 Campbell Avenue
Smart Tax Services 445 Campbell Avenue
Starchaser Hair Co. 411 Campbell Avenue
Star Wok 549 Campbell Avenue
Steve Goldstein Gold and Silver 473 Campbell Avenue
TD Bank 636 Campbell Avenue
Tony’s Barber Shop 277 Center Street
Tropical Breeze Jamaican Kitchen 423 Campbell Avenue
Wachovia Bank 597 Campbell Avenue
Walgreen’s 394 Campbell Avenue
Webster Bank 584 Campbell Avenue

Article 1 -  General Provisions

Article 2 – Use Regulations

Article 3 – Citywide Use Regulations

Article 4 – Citywide Standards

Article 5 – Parking- Loading- Access

Article 6 – Signs and Billboards

Article 7 – Resource Regulations

Article 8 – Site Plan Review

Article 9 – Zoning Admin and Enforcement

Article 10-13 – with Appendices

Zoning Map

The Discover West Haven Day was held at the University of New Haven’s David A. Beckerman Recreation Center on June 16, 2010.  The event was held for the business community to have a “one-stop” location to get all of their questions answered regarding their business or a potential start-up business.  The presenters addressed many questions and available programs in their presentations including: business plan writing assistance, downtown district façade program information, start-up business assistance, capitalizing small businesses, loan information (non-bankable loans), small business assistance, energy incentives and regional developments.

Presenters represented the following organizations: Workforce Alliance, The United Illuminating Company, Community Economic Development Fund, Small Business Administration, Connecticut’s Business Response Center, City of West Haven, University of New Haven, Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and REX Development. 

To view presentations from the event, please click on one of the following organizations:
City of West Haven
Connecticut’s Business Response Center
State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
REX Development
Small Business Administration
University of New Haven
Yale-New Haven Hospital

We are currently working on creating business assistance workshops for the fall.  Please contact Ashley McClellan at McClellan@westhaven-ct.gov or at 203-937-3580 x3012 to sign-up or for more information.

West Haven businesses attending any of the Fall courses in Milford or Meriden will receive the discounted CEDF/Partner rate, just register as a partner organization.

“Understanding Business Finances to Maximize Your Profit”- Learn how to keep the necessary records for your small business and how to set up functional record keeping systems.  Discussion will include understanding financial statements, making income projections and different accounting methods that work best for your business.

“Introduction to QuickBooks”- Please note that the prerequisite to this class is the successful completion of “Understanding Business Finances”.  Participants will receive hands-on instruction in a small group setting.  The class fee includes a copy of QuickBooks 2008 software. Please be aware that demand for this workshop is high and registrations are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

“Tax Related Issues for Small Business”- Every business owner needs to know the tax issues associated with owning a small business in Connecticut.  Learn about the different kinds of taxes affecting your business and about your filing responsibilities and deadlines.  Our certified CPA instructors will help you understand your reporting and compliance responsibilities and answer questions about payroll taxes, sales tax and personal property tax.

“How to Use Marketing to Profitably Generate More Leads for Your Business and Start 2011 with a Full Pipeline”- 
At this workshop you will learn:
How to Develop a Strong Hook for Your Products
A Way to Overcome Buyers’ Concerns in Purchasing Your Products
How to Build a Great Marketing Campaign Producing Many Leads
The Simple Steps to Writing Ads That Sell
Common Advertising Errors to Avoid
The Secret to Having Your Own Unlimited Marketing Budget
Ways to Profitably Market Your Products
How to Increase Profits using Marketing Time vs. Service Time
How to Get More Leads from Your Networking

This two-session workshop will be presented:
When: On two Mondays – January 24th and 31st, 2011
Workshop 6:30-9:00 pm
Where: CEDF, 965 Main Street, Meriden, CT 06450
Presenter: Certified Business Coach Bob Kademian, ActionCOACH Milford
Fee: $20.00 CEDF Clients          $30.00 Other CT Businesses

To register for classes or for additional information, please contact Rina Bakalar, Institute Director, at r.bakalar@cedf.com  or 203-235-2333 ext. 2040 or visit the CEDF website www.cedf.com  to download course information and registration forms.

The program allows business development specialists from the City and UI to meet with local businesses, one-on-one, to discuss the challenges many businesses are facing in these difficult economic times, and explore solutions that can help companies in West Haven expand and grow.

The program is targeting companies from a wide range of business arenas that are integral to West Haven’s economic vitality and success. If you would like your business to participate in the program, please contact Tom Cariglio from The United Illuminating Company at Thomas.Cariglio@uinet.com.

Please visit UI’s economic development website at www.ctcentralcoast.com.

One of these visits lead to Chick’s Drive-In saving thousands on their electrical bill and reducing their overall energy consumption.

Chick’s Drive-In owner Joseph E. “Chick” Celentano received an oversize check from the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund for making the seafood restaurant more energy efficient.  Celentano was joined by Mayor John M. Picard, Richard W. Steeves, chairman of the Energy Conservation Management Board, and Pat McDonnell, senior director of conservation and load management at The United Illuminating Co.  Celentano’s Beach Street institution, which has called West Haven home for 60 years, was recognized on Oct. 26, 2010 for taking part in the Small Business Energy Advantage Program and installing energy-saving lighting and refrigeration equipment.

The new equipment is saving the well-known restaurateur hundreds of dollars each month on his electricity bill.  It is also expected to save 468,000 kilowatt-hours — the equivalent of 109 acres of trees, or 44,911 gallons of gas — over the products’ lifetimes.  For going green, Celentano received a plaque from the Energy Efficiency Fund and the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council.  The fund, which is administered by UI and paid into by all UI customers, provides the money that supports energy initiatives for homeowners and renters, small and large businesses, and state and local governments.  The innovative programs are managed by the state’s electric and gas utilities, including UI and Southern Connecticut Gas Co.  The fund presented Celentano with a check for $15,237.71 toward the $33,000 energy-efficiency project.  He pays the rest of the cost through a loan with zero-percent financing.  The work, which took six weeks, was done by Efficient Lighting & Maintenance Inc. of Brookfield.

Mayor John M. Picard, center, presents the West Haven Pride Award for the city’s April Business of the Month to Best Gas Food Mart co-owners Gurjant Narain, left, and Avtar Sing, right.

The award praises Best Gas for their exemplary customer service and commitment to the community through its new renovation and “for its wholehearted devotion to the city of West Haven as an outstanding community partner.”

The gas station joins two others owned by Narain and Singh on the Boston Post Road and in New Haven.

Best Gas Food Mart
147 Campbell Avenue
203-931-1300

Mayor John M. Picard, right, presents the West Haven Pride Award for the city’s March Business of the Month to University of New Haven President Stephen H. Kaplan in front of the future site of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science.

The award praises UNH for the addition of the $9.4 million Lee Institute and “for its wholehearted devotion to the city of West Haven as an outstanding community and institutional partner.”

The 15,649-square-foot Lee Institute, which will open next fall and sit on a portion of UNH’s 80-acre main campus on the Boston Post Road, is part of Allingtown’s ongoing renaissance, which also includes the university’s new, $43 million Soundview Residence Hall, which stands five stories, and $15.5 million David A. Beckerman Recreation Center, which encompasses 56,000 square feet.

UNH’s ambitious development initiatives are complemented by the recent, state-of-the-art expansion at nearby Notre Dame High School and the completed Penske Truck Leasing facility at the old Bowl Drive-In theater site at 38 Boston Post Road.

University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Road
1-800-342-5864
http://www.newhaven.edu

From left, Charli’s Cupcake Factory owner Jennifer Maultsby and her 6-year-old daughter, Charli, receive the West Haven Pride Award for the city’s February Business of the Month from Mayor John M. Picard with employees Kori Ligon and Chelsea Rivera.

The award praises the sweets shop “for its wholehearted devotion to the city of West Haven as an outstanding community partner.”

Charli’s, which opened last fall, specializes in a smorgasbord of homemade, gourmet and organic cupcakes and muffins.

Using only natural or organic ingredients, Charli’s seven employees make each heaping-size cupcake from scratch, baking at least 400 a day.

Charli’s Cupcake Factory
912 Campbell Avenue
203-909-6001
http://charliscupcakefactory.com/

 United Illuminating
 157 Church Street P.O. Box 1564
 New Haven, CT 06506
 1-800-676-7052
 www.uinet.com

 Southern Connecticut Gas
 77 Hartland Street, 4th Floor
 East Hartford, CT 06108
 1-866-268-2887
 www.soconngas.com

• West Haven Downtown Facade Program
• West Haven Downtown Design Guidelines
• Downtown Design Presentation