On Oct. 25, Upper Albany Main Street (UAMS) hosted its Small Business Trade Show at the 1229 Collin Bennett Building in Hartford, Conn. The event served as a vibrant showcase of entrepreneurship, collaboration, and community pride, bringing together small businesses from across North Hartford to highlight their products, services, and contributions to the local economy.
In addition to the indoor business exhibitors, the event featured an outdoor open market hosted by seven Knox Farmers, offering locally grown produce and handmade goods. This partnership underscored UAMS’s commitment to promoting sustainability, supporting local agriculture, and strengthening ties between small business owners and the broader community. Together, these efforts created an engaging and interactive environment that encouraged residents to connect with local entrepreneurs, discover neighborhood resources, and celebrate Hartford’s thriving small business ecosystem.
A special highlight of the event was the graduation ceremony for the 2nd Digital Literacy Cohort, recognizing 12 participants who successfully completed five months of intensive digital skills training. The graduates demonstrated new competencies in computer essentials, hardware fundamentals, software applications, social media marketing, cybersecurity, and Canva design. This milestone marks a major step in bridging the digital divide that continues to challenge many small businesses in the Upper Albany area.
To commemorate their achievement, each graduate was presented with a Dell laptop—a tool symbolizing empowerment and continued progress in the digital economy. Two business owners who completed Phase 2—the Business Solutions Phase of the program also delivered inspiring business pitches:
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Merice J. Henriques-Bryan, Best Practice Home Care LLC
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Donna Trowers-Morrison, Daily Operating & Consulting Solutions
Their presentations reflected how they are applying digital tools and business strategies to strengthen operations and expand their client reach.
Additionally, Orlene Janice Green, Abel’s Counseling LLC, shared a heartfelt testimonial, highlighting how the Digital Literacy program supported her in advancing her counseling business through the use of Canva, social media platforms, and other digital resources. Her experience exemplified the real-world impact of UAMS’s initiatives in helping entrepreneurs embrace technology to enhance visibility and business growth.
The event drew distinguished guests and community partners, including Dr. Lawrence Ward, President of the University of Hartford; Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, City of Hartford; Katherine A. Black, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Aarti Ivanic, Dean of the Barney School of Business; Paige Berschet, Director of Small Business Initiatives and Support, City of Hartford; Chavon Campbell, Lecturer of Management and Organizational Behavior; and Deepa Fadnis, Associate Professor and Director of the Digital Media and Journalism Program.
UAMS also acknowledged the valuable contributions of four student interns from the University of Hartford, who volunteered their time and skills to support the coordination and execution of the Trade Show. Their involvement reflected the strong partnership between UAMS and the University of Hartford, fostering experiential learning while promoting community engagement and leadership development among students.
The 2025 Small Business Trade Show exemplified what makes Upper Albany Main Street a cornerstone of community and economic development—celebrating entrepreneurship, education, and empowerment. By connecting local businesses with residents, institutions, and one another, UAMS continues to build a stronger, more unified, and prosperous Hartford community.