by June Portnoy

A lot has changed in Newtown over the past 60 years when the Newtown Business Association was established. For one thing, the Association was initially called the Businessman’s Association.

“All businesses were owned and operated by men at that time,” says former president, Paul Salvatore. “The majority of Newtown consisted of farmland. State Street was the hub of business, and the Association was a way for these business owners to get together.”

During the 1980s, The Businessman’s Association changed its name to the Newtown Business and Professional Association. More women were now running businesses, and professionals began coming into the area to set up their businesses.

Over the years, the Association has made many contributions to Newtown. Perhaps its biggest contribution was funding the municipal parking lot behind Isaac Newton’s and then donating it to the Borough in 1966. It also paid for and put up “Welcome to Newtown” signs around town.

Today, you can still see its last remaining sign on the corner of Sycamore Street and the 332 Bypass, directly across from Chandler Hall. This original sign dates back over 50 years.

From its inception, the Association has helped maintain State Street. It has put up its holiday decorations every year, and up until eight years ago, it paid for the upkeep of its lights and trees. It has continued to donate money to important causes in the community and to hold annual community events, such as Welcome Day (Newtown’s largest event), the Antique and Classic Car Show, the Easter Egg Hunt and the Biz Expo. Its two charitable events include its Golf Outing and its Breakfast with Santa.

On the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:30am, it holds its Breakfast Meetings at Chandler Hall, open to members and a guest. The cost is $15 per person for breakfast. Its monthly Business Card Exchange is typically the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, and it’s free to the public to attend with a business card.

A major benefit to residents and Association members is its Annual Community Guidebook mailed to every home in the 18940 zip code. The Guidebook was developed eight years ago, and today is continually updated on-line. For just $175, members get their names printed in the Guidebook.

“It’s inexpensive advertising for our members in a book that has become a keepsake for residents,” says Paul.

As Newtown has continued to evolve, the Association has spent most of its recent efforts marketing the community as a great place to live, work, shop and do business.

“We host our annual events with the hope that they will draw people into our town to come and spend money here,” adds Paul.

For the Association’s 60th birthday, it has changed its name to the Newtown Business Association.

“Even though more than half of our members are professionals, we believe our new name is easier to say and remember,” says Mick Petrucci, current president. “That’s why we shortened it.”

The Association has created a new logo with its new name. It has also invested a lot of time and money creating a new Web site (www.newtownba.org), also to celebrate its 60th anniversary. The Web site’s many new features will be up and running sometime in March.

“We are already getting thousands of hits every month, and all members are directly linked to our Web site,” says Mick.

One of the highlights of the new Web site is its community calender of events. Thanks to the site, if you want to register for one of the Association’s events, you will soon be able to register on-line, instead of the hassle of mailing or faxing your registration form, as you’ve done in the past.

The Newtown Business Association currently has 240 active members.

“We are proud to be one of the largest non-chamber business associations in the entire region,” says Mick.

So what’s in store for the future? Paul sees the Association growing to accommodate the expanded businesses in Newtown and doing more cross-promotions with other associations in town. Newtown is not the same community it was 60 years ago when farmers were shopping here.  Today, approximately 20,000 people live in this community.

“It’s our goal to encourage people to shop locally and support our services,” says Paul. “This is what will keep our businesses thriving and growing into the future.”