Dumfries’ business seeds grow

With $5,000 seed money from the town, the Dumfries Business Association is off to a strong start.

More than 40 businessmen and women from the town and surrounding areas have signed on with the new organiza-tion to promote doing business locally.

"We are excited to see this happening," said Dumfries Town Manager Dave Whitlow as he presented the check from the Dumfries Town Council to the association. The group's first meeting was Friday at the town's Community and Cultural Arts Center.

"We hope you will continue to prosper and grow business in the community as well as make this the commu-nity of choice for businesses," he said.

During the meeting, members elected Susan Ferriera from Dunkin' Donuts as president, Catalina Racu of United Bank as vice president, former Dumfries Town Councilwoman Stephanie Bradley as secretary and Frances Halpern from Commerce Bank as treasurer. Additionally, Dumfries Mayor Fred Yohey was elected to serve as an at-large member of the organization's executive committee.

The desire to create the association grew out of a business advisory committee created by Yohey two years ago when he took office, said Ferriera, who was one of the original members.

It gathered further momentum during a town charrette held last fall, Whitlow said. "The desire was for an active business association to promote the interests of the town and help this to be an even better town," he said.

"I've watched this town every year get better and better and better," Ferriera said. "People are coming into my store all the time telling me the town, and particularly Main Street, looks great. I hope we can get more people to get involved.

"We are going to do whatever we can think of to help people stay in the community when doing their

business," she said.

"People who live in Dumfries or the surrounding areas should shop in Dumfries," said Pete Singh, the developer of the Pointe Center offices buildings in town, as well as the new Dumfries Town Center located next to the town hall. "We need to be self-supporting."

The purpose of the association is to create a healthy economic environment within the town and the surrounding areas, Yohey said.

"I think this town has tremendous potential but not all people know about it, including some of the people who live here," Yohey said. The association will change that, he said. "Already, it's catching on."

The association plans to publish a business directory, as well as participate in the Dumfries Christmas Parade, in order to promote businesses in the area and increase its visibility in the community.

Staff member Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.