On Wednesday, May 28, US Representative Sara McBride visited several downtown Milford businesses. While in the town, she heard details from Mayor Todd Culotta and City Manager Mark Whitfield on the Milford Corporate Center that recently broke ground at the corner of Canterbury and Airport Road.
“This project was designed to bring high-quality and high-paying jobs to the city,” Culotta said. “We designed it with the understanding that businesses would purchase lots and bring tech, logistics and other growing industries to Milford.”
McBride asked if there had been interest expressed in the project, and Whitfield said there was significant interest. Lauren Swain, Director of Economic Development and Community Engagement for the city, commented that she had received a request just that morning for more information about the project.
“These are the kind of projects that make me happy,” McBride said. “I can see how this will support economic growth here in the town. I have to say, I am always hearing wonderful things about Milford, so I am excited to come see what is happening here.”
After learning more about the corporate center, McBride walked to Stewart’s Gourmet Candies and Snow Cones where she learned how Melissa Stewart got into the business of freeze-drying items.
“During COVID, I spent a lot of time on social media, especially TikTok, and saw people doing this freeze-drying thing,” Stewart said. “I decided to invest in a machine and the rest is history.”
Currently, Stewart is only licensed to sell candy in her store due to state health department restrictions but hopes those rules will change so she can add things like fruit, yogurt and other healthy options to her inventory.
“This is a dangerous place for me,” McBride said. “I didn’t have a sweet tooth growing up, but suddenly a switch went off and now I have a major one.” She purchased some freeze-dried Skittles and Fruit Roll-Ups as well as chocolate-covered caramels while visiting the store.
McBride then walked across the street to Gallery 37, where she learned more about Marcia Reed and her art.
“I have some of your art in my office,” McBride told Reed. “I cannot tell you how much that art has transformed my office from a drab government office to one filled with vibrant colors. I think I have five or six in my office and one of my staffers took one for her own office that she liked.”
The next stop on the tour was the new Downtown Milford Inc. office, located in the former Marvel Building, but now known as the Trinity Executive Center. McBride learned about the efforts Downtown Milford Inc. is making to revitalize downtown and learned of the events that bring thousands into town.
“Festivals are important, especially in small towns, as people come here and see what the town has to offer,” McBride said. “You would be surprised how many people come to a festival and then return another time to shop or dine. I keep hearing that Milford is a perfect place to live, shop and play, so what I am seeing tells me those reports are true.”
Her final stop on the tour was Dolce, a suggestion by Downtown Milford Coordinator Sade Truiett, who knew of McBride’s love of coffee.
“We go way back, and I think most of our meetings in Dover were at Brew-Ha-Ha,” McBride joked. “She knows that coffee is absolutely one of my favorite things.”
McBride, who is out of session in Washington, D.C., stated that it refills her heart when she is able to spend time in the state that she loves.
“Washington is filled with a lot of toxicity and negativity,” McBride said. “It just rejuvenates me and makes it easier for me to breathe when I come back to this state and recharge.”
