The Village of Bergen was touted for its walkability, historic preservation, plan for the future, and welcoming environment for businesses during a START-UP Genesee Entrepreneurial Walking Tour held Thursday, June 22.
“I’m so glad we did this,” Mayor Anna Marie Barclay told the Suburban News, as a large group of county business and tourism officials toured the downtown business district, two village parks (including the old village water department/DPW building which is being converted to an all-season shelter) and businesses near the Route 262/Townline Road intersection.
Rachel Tabelski of the Genesee County Economic Development Center said this is the first time START-UP Genesee has included an entire village as part of the “Think & Drink” series. “They typically focus on just one business,” she said, but Bergen has so much to offer small businesses, organizers felt the entire community was worthy of special focus.
Chris Suozzi of the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce said the “Think & Drink” events help entrepreneurs to network with other business owners. Officials from organizations such as the Batavia Development Corp, the Harvester Center in Batavia, High Tech Rochester (HTR) and Genesee Community College also took part in the event.
Mayor Barclay led the tour, which included stops at restaurants, a bakery, the American Legion Post, Craft Supplies Unlimited, the Bergen School for the Arts, Harris Wilcox Inc., the village’s Disc Golf Course, Sage Pavilion (under renovation), and the new Farmer’s Market in Hickory Park.
The Mayor explained that the village’s restoration of the historic Tulley Building for use as a Village Hall served as an anchor, incentive and a catalyst, “for downtown restoration.” The Main Street Grant program is ongoing and the tour featured images of facade improvements hung on the windows of business district buildings to show what they might look like if funding is received and improvements/restorations made.
“Our goal is to enhance the quality of life in the Village of Bergen,” Mayor Barclay said. “We want to create a sense of place in the village … and find ways to further engage with business opportunities throughout the county.”
During the tour, participants heard from business owners who offered their personal stories and advice. They praised the village for its location and atmosphere. “I love the Village of Bergen,” and “Bergen is a great location … it is going to become more of a hot spot,” two business owners said.
As they toured, participants sampled baked goods, pizza and wine, and were able to ask questions of village leaders and business owners.
The tour included the Sage Pavilion which was built in the 1930’s as the village’s water building and later used by the DPW. A state grant helped to fund renovation and the work of converting it to an all-season shelter is almost complete. Walking tour participants were treated to two varieties of chicken wings provided by the Rose Garden Bowl while getting a peek inside the Pavilion.
The tour wrapped up at the Farmer’s Market in Hickory Park. “This town’s got it together,” Genesee County Chamber of Commerce President Tom Turnbull said. He called Bergen a progressive village, “It’s beautiful, you are doing a great job,” he told village leaders. Turnbull also commended organizations such as the Genesee County Economic Development Corporation, the Batavia Development Corp, Genesee Community College and the Chamber.
“We all really work well together to make Genesee County even better,” Turnbull said. “Bergen is already an example of how it can be done in a small town.”
