Business Leaders Meet the Candidates for City Council

At the Chamber of Commerce’s first ever “Meet the Candidates” forum, the business community got a chance to hear from the Candidates for City Council last month.  Equally important, the Candidates got a chance to listen to the concerns of business leaders.

Candidates were all seated at tables in the hall at the Irish American Club where they shared breakfast and ideas.  The program allowed each candidate two minutes to introduce themselves and to answer the question: “What is the role of the City in promoting business in Malden?”  There was much talk about taxes, especially the Local Meals Tax enacted last year by the City of Malden.  Several of the Candidates praised the Malden Restaurant Owner/Operators Association [MROA] for promoting Malden as a dining destination.  Many noted their own backgrounds in the business world.

Photo courtesy of Malden Access TV.  Check their listings to see the full event video.

Ward 5 Councillor Barbara Murphy Addresses Attendees

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Like most local Chambers, the Malden Chamber of Commerce has no affiliation with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  Our revenue is derived entirely from membership dues and fees from membership events.  We receive no government or external funding.

Our mission tasks us to be “nonpartisan and nonsectarian”.  While we will strongly advocate in the interests of our members, that advocacy is limited to issues not parties or personalities.

God Bless the Little Man

There is a country western song by Alan Jackson that talks about small business owners (the “Little Man”) who, “…built this town, Before the big money shut ‘em down”.

It sounds a little shop worn to say that small businesses are the engine of progress in this country, but it still holds true. They are the primary employers, the primary taxpayers, and the primary source of growth and innovation. Our local business community is struggling, they are strong, and will emerge from this recession in good shape, but in the interim, we need to stick together. We need to help ourselves and each other, by supporting and patronizing our local businesses.

Take a look at the advertisements in this Newsletter. The advertisers are members of your community. In patronizing a local business, it is important to remember that much more of each dollar spent stays within that community. That helps all of us. Next time you are looking for a business, take a look at the list of members on our website. Give these folks your business, and it will pay you back.

“Long live the little man,
God bless the little man!”

Malden Chamber of Commerce • 200 Pleasant St. • Malden, MA 02148 • (781) 322-4500 • info@maldenchamber.org