Crawford Small Business and Tourism Center opens

By Laura Fitzgerald
Posted 4/17/19

The Crawford Small Business and Tourism Center, which will promote tourism and serve as a resource for area small businesses, had its grand opening last Thursday.

“The Small Business & …

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Crawford Small Business and Tourism Center opens

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The Crawford Small Business and Tourism Center, which will promote tourism and serve as a resource for area small businesses, had its grand opening last Thursday.


“The Small Business & Tourism Center, located conveniently in the center of Town, will serve as a resource for visitors and community members alike,” Crawford Director of Community Services Domanie Ragni said. “We look forward to promoting local Tourism and our wonderful small businesses. The natural next step is to attract even more! We’re already a wonderful destination and are working towards bringing things to the next level.”


Business owners and community members attended the event to tour the new center, interactive kiosk and Taste NY display.


Domanie Ragni, Director of Community Services for the Town of Crawford, said the interactive kiosk will search area businesses based on the user’s preferences. For example, if the user wants to explore area wineries, the kiosk will pull up a list of wineries, putting Crawford businesses first.


The store also boasts a Taste NY display. The program was launched by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013 and promotes the diversity of food and beverages grown and made in New York through local Taste NY centers.


The center will boost business development and sustainability and serve as a central location where potential, new and/or existing business owners can call or meet with a liaison to all town hall departments.


The ceremony included a ribbon cutting, where several local and state government representatives spoke, including Town Supervisor Charles Carnes, Orange County Legislator Rob Sassi, Orange County Director of Tourism Amanda Dana and New York State Senator James Skoufis.


“Thriving local businesses and successful tourism play crucial roles of the economic growth in the Hudson Valley,” Skoufis said. “Having this type of resource for people to go to will help generate access to opportunities.”


John Tarolli, partner with Pine Bush engineering and surveying firm MNTM, said he was happy to see the town promote small businesses, especially on Main Street. He said a thriving Main Street is key to a prosperous local economy because it encourages people to stop in the town.


“[The center] promotes the perception that Pine Bush is a growing and vibrant community, and if that perception is realized, more people will stop by,” Tarolli said.


Ragni said the center contributes to Crawford’s overall vision of creating a thriving, walkable downtown in Pine Bush.


“The easiest way to attract walking-traffic to Main Street is through the creation of an appealing, interesting place to visit,” Ragni said. “Our beautiful, historic shopping district now boasts a great variety of wonderful restaurants and shops, with more coming soon! Most importantly and by design, it’s all connected by convenient walkability.”


Located at 85 Main Street, the center will initially be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but might expand its hours.

Crawford, small business, tourism