South End Business Assoc. Announces Officers, Beautification Effort

SPRINGFIELD — The newly reorganized South End Business Assoc. (SEBA) has been busy over the summer, electing a slate of officers and launching a beautification campaign.

Local business owners reorganized the dormant organization and elected officers for the first time in several years at SEBA’s monthly meeting in July: President Tony Calabrese (AC Produce); Vice President Greg Zorzi (Studio One Inc.); Treasurer Susan Mulvey (E.B. Atmus Co.); and Secretary Sarah Page (HAPHousing).

SEBA has had a long-standing presence in the South End, the historic neighborhood adjacent to downtown Springfield that boasts dozens of restaurants and small businesses. The newly revitalized organization now counts nearly 60 members and is continuing to grow. Over the past year, SEBA has drafted bylaws, worked with the city to increase police foot patrols, and doubled attendance at monthly meetings. The organization is focused on expanding business opportunity and civic engagement in the South End, while promoting the district as a great place to shop, eat, live, and do business.

The revitalized organization kicked off its beautification campaign this summer with the installation of 44 hanging flower baskets along Main Street. Funding for the flowers and equipment to hang them was onated by SEBA members, including MGM Springfield, along with the Springfield Business Improvement District. SEBA is currently brainstorming ways to continue its beautification efforts and draw additional foot traffic to the neighborhood.

“These flowers are our way of saying that the South End is open for business,” Calabrese said. “We want visitors, shoppers, and diners to feel welcome. The business owners have really rallied around this project, and I think it’s a great sign of things to come.”