M&T Financial institution Spotlights Connecticut Small Companies in Modern Pop-Up Store Idea at Captain’s Cove Seaport

Native small companies could have entry to retail house at Bridgeport’s premier vacationer vacation spot 

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — M&T Financial institution is bringing its modern Highlight Store idea to Connecticut, offering native small companies with a chance to market their distinctive merchandise from a pop-up house in Bridgeport’s standard Captain’s Cove Seaport.

The M&T Highlight Store is a contemporary, 240-square-foot modular retail house with folding partitions that gives a welcoming, participating house for companies to attach with clients. Beginning right this moment in Bridgeport and persevering with in numerous areas throughout the state, companies from throughout Connecticut will rotate by in two-week segments.

The primary companies to be featured, all of that are M&T clients, embody:

• Leisha’s Bakeria, a small-batch bakery owned by Leisha Younger and situated within the Bijou Sq. neighborhood of downtown Bridgeport. Leisha’s Bakeria provides freshly baked cookies, desserts, and different baked items.
• El Coquito, a family-owned Puerto Rican restaurant situated in Bridgeport that has served the group for over 30 years.

M&T’s Highlight Store first launched in Baltimore’s Internal Harbor in 2019, and in 2020 went digital as a result of coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic-inspired adaptation of the bodily retail house was so standard that the corporate will run a Digital Highlight Store concurrently alongside the bodily location at Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport.

Further native small companies might be added to each Highlight Retailers all through the month-long keep at Captain’s Cove. The next month, the bodily Highlight Store will transfer to new, high-traffic areas throughout Connecticut.

“The Highlight Store is a logo of our unwavering assist of small enterprise house owners,” mentioned Frank Micalizzi, M&T’s Bridgeport regional president. “Bridgeport is dwelling to many thrilling and inventive companies. As one of many main SBA lenders in Connecticut, we’re dedicated to serving to small companies develop, create jobs and uplift our group.”

“My enterprise relies upon closely on word-of-mouth and foot visitors, so to be featured in M&T’s Highlight Store, with the brand new location and all of the publicity that comes with it, makes me really feel so lucky,” mentioned Leisha Younger, proprietor of Leisha’s Bakeria.

“We’re proud and pleased to welcome M&T Financial institution’s Highlight Store right here to Captain’s Cove Seaport,” mentioned Bruce Williams, vp of Captain’s Cove. “Because the supporter of quite a lot of small maritime companies right here on the Seaport, we admire M&T’s dedication to the small enterprise group within the Bridgeport space.”

“As Vice Chair of the Finance, Income & Bonding committee, I’m at all times involved as to what’s accessible to the small, various companies that decision Bridgeport dwelling,” mentioned State Senator Marilyn Moore. “The M&T Highlight Store at Captain’s Cove is an effective way to deliver publicity to such companies, and I hope that is just the start of giving publicity to small companies who’re the spine of our communities.”

“Bridgeport is a superb place to reside, work, and naturally, begin and develop a enterprise. As part of the Finance, Income and Bonding Committee within the State Legislature, it’s my job to make sure Connecticut attracts and retains companies,” mentioned State Consultant Steve Stafstrom. When firms like M&T step up and assist native companies, it goes an extended approach to sustaining our vibrant small enterprise group”

“Bridgeport is dwelling to many small companies which are deeply enshrined within the metropolis’s tradition and group,” mentioned Bridgeport Metropolis Council President Aidee Nieves. “I am glad to see M&T Financial institution highlighting these native companies of their Highlight Store, which can herald new clients and present guests one of the best of what Bridgeport has to supply.”

“The Highlight Store is a singular approach to showcase small companies in Connecticut and assist them develop,” mentioned CBIA President and CEO, Chris DiPentima. “CBIA is happy to see M&T Financial institution facilitating this program to present native companies extra publicity.”

As a part of its dedication to supporting native companies and entrepreneurs, M&T lately launched a Multicultural Small Enterprise Innovation Lab in Bridgeport, Conn. The seven-week program, which was introduced in June and can kick off on Sept. 21, is designed to assist native multicultural enterprise house owners thrive, develop and pursue new concepts by offering steerage and expertise to increase and function their companies.

M&T persistently ranks within the high 10 within the nation for U.S. Small Enterprise Administration lending and is at the moment the second main small enterprise lender within the SBA District of Connecticut.

The Bridgeport M&T Highlight Store might be open Wednesday and Thursday from 11am-3pm, and Friday by Sunday 12pm-5pm, climate allowing. For extra data and to go to the M&T Digital Highlight Store, please go to www.mtb.com/spotlightshop. To maintain up with all of the Highlight Store motion, comply with us on Instagram – @mandt_spotlightshop.

About M&T

M&T Financial institution Company is a monetary holding firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Financial institution, offers banking services in 12 states throughout the japanese U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Belief-related companies are offered in choose markets within the U.S. and overseas by M&T’s Wilmington Belief-affiliated firms and by M&T Financial institution.

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SOURCE M&T Financial institution