Page 15 - BusinessWest July 11, 2022

Strength in Numbers
Women in Business Find a Home, Empowerment at the Mill District
By KaileBy Houle
efore the pandemic, Andréa Marion worked in the nonprofit world.
As it was for countless others, COVID became a period of reflec-
tion for her, a time to determine what was really important.
“Being a woman in business at the Mill District has been very empowering.”
“I wasn’t happy and wanted a change,” she recalled. “I loved what I did, I loved working with and helping people, but I just knew it was time to see what else was out there and see what I can do. I have always loved fashion. I’ve always been into clothing, and style, and what it means to someone and how we represent ourselves with clothing.”
She took this passion for fashion, started a clothing boutique, and eventually took this fledg- ling venture to one of the pop-up events at the Mill District in North Amherst, where she hosted
a table. Two months later, she is a far more per- manent fixture at this home to a diverse mix of businesses, many of them owned and operated by women, including The Mill itself, which was created by Cinda Jones, president of WD Cowls
Andrea Marion says she’s surrounded by ‘bad-ass,’ powerful women at The Mill District.
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