By Susan Elise Campbell
Malta Business Works is a new organization formed to help promote business in the town.
The group provides a forum for “a collective network of businesses to exchange ideas and talk about their needs and struggles,” said David Rosenberg of Brix Wine & Liquor, an officer of the nonprofit’s five-person board of directors.
According to Rosenberg, there are upward of 300 businesses in Malta. Malta Business Works is reaching as many as possible by piggybacking on the business-to-business calls of one of its member businesses, by word-of-mouth, and by using social media to advertise the event.
“We need a strong membership base to serve the community and help our businesses do business,” he said. “We are letting them know they can be a part of something to support local, grow their business, and meet with other businesses.”
Malta’s businesses represent a diverse group of products and services and range from working from home to a small independent business to large local employers.
“One of the members said something the other day that meant a lot to me,” said Rosenberg. “He said there is no water cooler for him to bounce ideas off of.”
According to Rosenberg, businesses can rely on the support of other similar business to benefit one another.
“For example, just because there are two bakeries in town doesn’t mean they can’t co-exist,” he said. “They are similar businesses but they draw customers for different reasons.”
Each monthly Malta Business Works Monday will feature a different subject matter relevant to the host business and invite a guest to speak on the topic, Rosenberg said.
Rosenberg said that many residents do not realize the Town of Malta got its name from the malt that was once grown and malted in malt houses along the shores of Round Lake. “And now we have two local breweries that use New York malt.”
Future guest speakers may cover such subjects as job posting ideas, credit card fees, social media marketing and ways to improve on different aspects of operating a business while helping drive the town’s economic growth.
The organization meets the second Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. and rotates the location so “that particular member can showcase what their business has to offer, too,” Rosenberg said.
The mission of Malta Business Works is “to cultivate a thriving, diverse and sustainable business community that positively impacts its members and the community.”
The organization’s board of directors includes, in addition to Rosenberg, includes Jim Trainor of Trainor Law PLLC, Erika Anderson of Unified Beerworks and Paul Loomis of Roundabout Runners Club.
Businesses can learn more about the organization and upcoming events at maltabusinessworks.com.