Does your business need a jump start? Malverne's Maria Casini can help!

While the setting sun painted the sky orange at Crossroads Farm at Grossmans, the Chamber of Commerce planned for another successful autumn for Malverne. Owners of all different businesses — from childcare to plumbing and everything in between — came together, joined by their dedication to keeping Malverne a vibrant and thriving community.

“The idea is about driving relationships,” said Maria Casini, president of the Chamber, at the Sep. 13 meeting. “We can do more when we’re working together.”

That spirit of symbiosis was evident. New and old members exchanged information while enjoying food catered from local Italian restaurant Uva Rossa, whose owner Antonio Bove handpicks vegetables from Crossroads in the mornings. This way Crossroads receives more local business and exposure, while Uva Rossa brings their dishes to new heights using fresh, Malverne-grown produce.

“We want to elevate the business community, all of them — members and nonmembers,” Casini said. “They are storefront businesses and they’re home businesses. Everyone finds their level and get some value out of being a part of a community.”

“Our goal is to provide excellence to the business community,” she added.

Perhaps most valuable of all is the fact that young business owners can connect with more experienced colleagues. These connections allow Malverne businesses to collaborate so the whole community shares the success.

Monica Fernandez and Michelle Lowry joined the Chamber 3 months ago after opening their business, The Parents’ Lounge of Malverne, this past March. To them, connecting with fellow neighborhood business owners has been integral to their journey.

“There’s a great sense of community,” Lowry said of the Chamber. “Getting to know all the other business owners, getting to feel out how Malverne works, getting to speak to well-seasoned business owners and learn from them.”

Sheila Pfeffer grew up in Malverne, and now owns a real estate business in the neighborhood. With nearly three years of membership with the Chamber of Commerce, she said being a part of the business community has been invaluable.

“It’s about supporting everyone,” Pfeffer said. “Working together to create the downtown. Everyone is really encouraging toward each other.”

The members of the Chamber of Commerce find opportunities not only through connecting with each other, but also through the work the chamber itself does for the businesses of Malverne. The new Chinese food and sushi restaurant Double Fish, for example, recently opened on Hempstead Avenue and soon became members of the Chamber. Casini said that the Chamber is always on the lookout for grants, and found one offered by PSEG: if a storefront is empty for at least one year and a business decides to make that storefront their new home, PSEG will contribute anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000 toward their electricity bill. The Malverne Chamber of Commerce secured that grant for Double Fish. That’s what the Chamber can do for a business, Casini said — it can help you hit the ground running.

“If you take advantage of the opportunities, they’re endless,” Casini said.

Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan also came to the Chamber meeting to express his support for local business owners. Sullivan pointed out that the Village of Malverne and its Chamber of Commerce work together closely — three of the five Village Board members are Chamber members as well.

“It has been one of our first and foremost priorities to work with our business, commercial building owners and potential new businesses to build and retain a more attractive downtown faced with the challenges of modern trends in retail,” Sullivan said. “Their collective knowledge and will to work together is an invaluable resource.”

To learn more, visit MalverneChamberofCommerce.com.