Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | July 26, 2021 | Worcester Business Journal 9 Good things come to those who work hard. At People's United Bank, we believe there's only one way to get something done right: By giving 100%. That's the level of dedication we bring to our clients' businesses, whether helping customers with financing for a complex expansion or automating the accounts payable process. We work hard to make sure our solutions work. So get in touch when you're ready for more than just another bank. Dedication gets it done. © 2021 PEOPLE'S UNITED BANK, N.A. | MEMBER FDIC | EQUAL HOUSING LENDER peoples.com/business Jim Curran Massachusetts 508-890-5183 Hard Work Jim Curran Ad (4.3x11.25).indd 1 Hard Work Jim Curran Ad (4.3x11.25).indd 1 7/1/21 1:56 PM 7/1/21 1:56 PM is has led to food entrepreneurs finding Webster as a viable place to start new eateries, Willardson said. is was certainly the case for Mike Chiler, who owns Mike's Crunchies & Munchies on Webster's Main Street with his wife, Patti Chiler. Aer losing his job and struggling to find many reemployment options during the pandemic, Chiler decided to open up his own shop. "It was time to do something for myself," said Chiller. e seafood-and-chicken wing restaurant first opened as a food truck in September 2020 and transferred to 32 Main St. in May. e restaurant is now expanding with a remodel of the second floor dining area to increase capacity for events and beer nights, aer receiving its liquor license in April. "Webster is becoming a food mecca, and it's a growing population," said Chil- er, a 12-year Webster resident. Government funding A big part of Webster's Main Street resilience through the pandemic came from grants and loans. Restaurants in the town received a total of nearly $2.2 million in grants from the federal Restaurant Revitaliza- tion Fund, placing it among the 10 most highly funded municipalities in Central Massachusetts from the U.S. Small Busi- ness Administration program. Chiler's transition to an in-store location was aided by a $10,000 vacant storefront grant, part of a state initia- tive established in 2018 to encourage downtown development in Gateway Cities. e state also awarded a vacant storefront grant to Wine Studio 51, a self-serve wine bar and brick-oven pizzeria, set to open in Webster this year. In April, the town received $40,000 as part of Massachusetts' Regional Pilot Proj- ect Grant Program to create a micro-grant program for local entrepreneurs. An upward arc Historically, Webster has weathered a number of challenges, including indus- trial plant closures and a 2018 tornado wreaking havoc on the town's infra- structure. In the last decade, however, its population has increased by 41%, with nearly 17,000 current residents, accord- ing to 2021 U.S. Census Bureau data. "People have an idea about Webster, and they don't think it can make it, so I'm glad we've opened our business here so we can prove that idea wrong," said Jessica-Lee Sabine, who opened the Rose Room Cafe in 2018 and grew up in the neighboring Dudley. Collaborative efforts from town officials are pushing for a more walkable, family-friendly center to draw residents and outside visitors, said Willardson. e town pushed forward investments in infrastructure this year, repaving roads downtown and installing new pedestrian lighting. New parks and green space are blossoming around town. A dog park was finalized this year on Main Street and a second section of the French River Greenway and riverwalk was completed this summer. Sabine, a mother herself, said she hopes the revitalization, as well as Web- ster's convenient off-the-highway location, will draw young couples and families who may be pushed out of Worcester's competitive housing market. She envisions Webster growing further beyond food. As secretary of the Webster-Dudley Business Alliance, she is pushing for a Sturbridge-esque farmer's market to draw people off I-395 and into town. "I would love if some of the store- fronts downtown become shops as well as restaurants to keep people in the downtown area for longer," she said. Doug Willardson, town administrator Jessica-Lee Sabine opened the Rose Room Cafe in 2018. Webster's population grew 41% in the last decade. W

• Cover