Businesses here and from around the state will descend on the Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center next week for the Central Connecticut Business, Industry & Technology Expo.
The annual event to be held Wednesday, is sponsored by the Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce and Cox Communications.
Most of the participating businesses are from Meriden and the greater New Haven area, though some will come from Hartford and even New York.
Christopher Frazza, director of catering at the Ramada, said the expo is a hometown event and the Ramada is a sponsor.
Between 30 and 35 companies will have booths at the affair, which will feature seminars and morning and evening chamber events.
The event last year was well attended, Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce President Sean Moore said.
“It’s a great place to network,” he said. The expo is both educational and promotional, Moore said. Five topics will be addressed during the day, which begins with the chamber’s Eye Opener Breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and features a talk on economic trends.
Castle Bank President Larry McGoldrick will moderate a panel of local, state and federal business officials on alternative business financing.
State procurement officials will present a seminar titled “Doing Business with the State of Connecticut.”
Representatives from the Hartford College for Women’s Entrepreneurial Center and from the Women’s Business Ownership section of the U.S. Small Business Administration will talk about business issues affecting women in the 21st century.
A chamber business after-hours will round out the day with free beer and wine.
Among the new exhibitors this year will be Web Solutions, a Web design and Web-hosting firm located in Meriden at 693 Broad St. President Tom Barton said he was impressed with how the expo has grown and diversified and wanted to become a part of it.
“Sean Moore has done a commendable job drawing both exhibitors and participants to the event that really reflects the Connecticut business and economy,” Barton said.
Another new exhibitor this year is Connecticut Electrical Equipment, a distributor of electrical supplies that has been doing business in Meriden for 103 years.
President Sam Bradford said the expo offers good cross section of industries and is great exposure.
Other exhibitors include Meriden Business & Learning Center, Yankee Gas, Mountainside resort of Wallingford, Fleet Bank, Muzak, LaserPro, Cyergnostics and others.
Jane K. Mills, Record-Journal staff