Village of Montgomery resident and business owner Randi Greene came up with the idea for the Business Council of Greater Montgomery. The purpose of this group is to make sure that small businesses in the Town of Montgomery as well as the villages of Walden, Montgomery and Maybrook are working together.

“COVID made me step back and figure out what’s really important,” Greene said. “I wanna see this economy grow.”

The council consists of business owners, representatives from the Valley Central School District, realtors and residents. The board of directors features representatives from a wide variety of businesses. This includes Eric Maldonado, Jiana Barker, Mike Snyder, Dominic Baiocco, Dickie Baxter, Kirstyn Cerone, John Fallon, Terry Smallin, Theresa Espinoza, Matt Messing, Susan Dean, Matt Gibbs and Harry Toromanides.

The group plans to hold its own events. Starting next year, the Town of Montgomery Farmers Market will become a Business Council of Greater Montgomery event.

Greene serves as the business council’s executive director. This position will start as a part-time job and eventually become full time. Greene, who declined to reveal her salary, said it would come directly from funds raised by the business council.

Greene’s business is also moving. On Sept. 1, Eat This Bakery & Gifts will move to 6 Union Street in the Village of Montgomery. There she will just sell cakes, as opposed to the extensive offerings her business currently sells. A new coffee shop called Java Blue will move into Eat This Bakery & Gifts’ current location of 8 Union Street.