In November of 2007 local businesses and community members in
Greenfield saw the need to come together to encourage community
involvement.
The Greenfield Community and Business Associ-ation (GCBA) was formed in March of 2008 to raise awareness of local businesses, service groups and agriculture while promoting community spirit in the Town of Greenfield. To fulfill their mission, they actively promote Greenfield area business and service groups and encourage the revitalization of community pride in the town. Greenfield has 7,500 people residents and living in hamlets called Greenfield Center, Middle Grove, Lake Desolation and Porters Corners. There is no real downtown area, but an effort is underway to get the word out about the diverse variety of goods, services and professionals who are living and working in the town, and to trade locally.
Association President Walter Chandler comes from a family of seventeen brothers and sisters. His strong roots in the community reach back in Greenfield for three generations. His grandfather was an Adirondack guide and other relatives have all worked in Greenfield local businesses, in farming, logging and at quarries. His wife, Michelle, joined him to start their married lives here. She was a Ballston Spa resident. Both been active since the inception of the association; Michelle is in charge of membership and has participated in several committees. The association currently has 89 members that recently contributed a flagpole and landscaping at the Greenfield Elementary School. GCBA also raised $8,000 for scholarships with a golf tournament at Brookhaven Golf Club in Porters Corners and is looking forward to repeating it this year, as well as starting a pig roast and enlarging on a chicken barbecue that raises funds for the Greenfield Fire Department, Chandler said.
"This has been a really positive force and we want people to work together as a community," Chandler said.
"We care about everybody and we know we are successful because of the positive influence of where we came from. We are not trying to change anything. This is about the spirit."
Part of the group's service is to sponsor work weekends as they did recently when the members cleaned up the Veteran's Park in Greenfield. All fundraising proceeds are applied to a need within the community.
The process of organizing as an association was a matter of walking through one door at a time, and there was a learning curve. Chandler credits the mentoring of the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association with helping their counterparts in Greenfield to get started.
"They invited us to their meetings and were a great source for us."
One interesting aspect of the group is that they periodically meet at member business locations to familiarize each other with what services are available within the town and to get to know the business owners. A resource book is due to become available in August. A monthly newsletter keeps members updated on upcoming GCBA events.
Chandler says the association has a long term goal of securing a building to hold events, such as senior gatherings, birthdays, etc. The GCBA recently held a Country Car Show that allowed residents to display their vehicles. Past projects have included Thanksgiving, Christmas, and coat drives for families in need.
You do not need to become a member, be a business owner, or be a Greenfield resident to attend the meetings, which are held on the second Monday of every month at 7pm at the Greenfield Community Center, on Wilton Road, Greenfield Center.
For more information, call 518-584-8640 or e-mail the Chandlers at mchandl4@nycap.rr.com. The Greenfield Community Business Association website is located at www.greenfieldcba.org.
Association President Walter Chandler comes from a family of seventeen brothers and sisters. His strong roots in the community reach back in Greenfield for three generations. His grandfather was an Adirondack guide and other relatives have all worked in Greenfield local businesses, in farming, logging and at quarries. His wife, Michelle, joined him to start their married lives here. She was a Ballston Spa resident. Both been active since the inception of the association; Michelle is in charge of membership and has participated in several committees. The association currently has 89 members that recently contributed a flagpole and landscaping at the Greenfield Elementary School. GCBA also raised $8,000 for scholarships with a golf tournament at Brookhaven Golf Club in Porters Corners and is looking forward to repeating it this year, as well as starting a pig roast and enlarging on a chicken barbecue that raises funds for the Greenfield Fire Department, Chandler said.
"This has been a really positive force and we want people to work together as a community," Chandler said.
"We care about everybody and we know we are successful because of the positive influence of where we came from. We are not trying to change anything. This is about the spirit."
Part of the group's service is to sponsor work weekends as they did recently when the members cleaned up the Veteran's Park in Greenfield. All fundraising proceeds are applied to a need within the community.
The process of organizing as an association was a matter of walking through one door at a time, and there was a learning curve. Chandler credits the mentoring of the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association with helping their counterparts in Greenfield to get started.
"They invited us to their meetings and were a great source for us."
One interesting aspect of the group is that they periodically meet at member business locations to familiarize each other with what services are available within the town and to get to know the business owners. A resource book is due to become available in August. A monthly newsletter keeps members updated on upcoming GCBA events.
Chandler says the association has a long term goal of securing a building to hold events, such as senior gatherings, birthdays, etc. The GCBA recently held a Country Car Show that allowed residents to display their vehicles. Past projects have included Thanksgiving, Christmas, and coat drives for families in need.
You do not need to become a member, be a business owner, or be a Greenfield resident to attend the meetings, which are held on the second Monday of every month at 7pm at the Greenfield Community Center, on Wilton Road, Greenfield Center.
For more information, call 518-584-8640 or e-mail the Chandlers at mchandl4@nycap.rr.com. The Greenfield Community Business Association website is located at www.greenfieldcba.org.
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