Happy St. Patty’s Day! This will be the second year of smaller celebrations in our towns, but the date is also a harbinger of spring! Only three days later is the beginning of the vernal equinox, when the sun is directly over the equator and we have equal hours of daylight and darkness.

I think of it as the beginning of a year of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.Whether you have gotten your vaccinations or are planning to over the next two to three months, we can be cautiously optimistic that our lives will be more normal and definitely better than the past 12 months.

I bet there will be a great number of permanent changes in our lives and some of them will be beneficial. For example, many of us now see how important it is to support our locally owned small businesses. These entrepreneurs work hard to bring us good products and services. Even if they employ just a few individuals, these people are our friends, relatives, and neighbors.

We muddled through 12 months of not knowing what to do first and next. We worried about fragile family members. Then, we were anxious about our businesses and our own employment. Collectively, we were extremely apprehensive.

Now we see hopeful signs of the virus ebbing, and we are getting protection for people who are vulnerable and then for ourselves. In our downtown business community, we see signs of growth. Landlords are getting inquiries from possible new tenants. Property sales are increasing, and the market prices are mostly reasonable. Millville Development has been fielding phone calls and e-mails from individuals who are planning to or are ready to venture into the world of “business owner.”

Do you have the entrepreneurial spirit? Do you have a great idea? Does someone else in your family or a friend want to be an independent business owner? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we can be of help.

Millville Development Corporation can assist you to locate a building for lease (or purchase) that is best suited for the type of enterprise you are planning. We know many landlords who are willing to work with you. If you need help in preparing your business plan, we can give you guidance. When the time is ready for you, we can recommend lenders to help you finance your project.

Millville Development collaborates with other city, county, and state agencies and organizations that will be able to aid you in formulating a well-thought-out plan that will make the likelihood of success a reality. Periodically, we can offer small grants, or we can introduce you to some of our partners that may have access to incentives.

During these spring months of 2021, we will be announcing business expansions and new openings. We are counting on this to be a Post-Pandemic Trend! After all, isn’t that the American spirit and the American way? Let us be of service to you. Contact me at [email protected] or 856-293-0556.