The Village of Baroda may exist on less than one square mile of land, but its reach extends much further. Surrounding townships, villages, and communities are represented proudly and well by the Baroda Area Business Association, and the businesses of which the organization is comprised.
After two years of dormancy during the pandemic, the new Board of Directors , President Steve Salisbury, Vice President Greta Hurst, and Secretary William “Bill” Hurst, and its members are ready to go to work. The Board was elected in October of 2021, after a short time of uncertainty about the association’s future.
“We look at the year 2022 as one of transition,” says BABA President Steve Salisbury. “Baroda and the greater Baroda Area is very special, and we hope to continue to promote the area and businesses.”
Having just completed their Membership Drive for 2022, the Baroda Area Business Association has added nearly twenty new members, bringing the total to fifty represented businesses. Companies from Bridgman, Stevensville, Berrien Springs, Buchanan, and Sawyer have joined the association, knowing the support and drive the BABA offers will help grow their business as well as their sense of community.
This year will bring many new events and ideas for Baroda, but one of the first will be a speaker series. Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling will be briefly presenting about county strategies during the BABA Mixer on March 31st, and other potential speakers for the future include Kim Lasata, Brad Paquette, SCORE, and Rotary.
“One significant project on which we are working is broadband for Baroda Township. We are working with Teri Freehling and Baroda Township supervisor Dennis Krotzer, to make this happen. We are excited that Baroda Township will be the first government entity in Berrien county to use the county’s new broadband estimating system. Once we have those estimates, then we can start searching for funding sources,” Steve says.
The Baroda Area Business Association Spring Mixer will be on Thursday, March 31st from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m, at the Lemon Creek Winery tasting room, with appetizers provided by Classic Catering. This event is free for BABA members, and only $10 at the door for community members interested in a night of networking, sharing, and camaraderie. Please RSVP by Tuesday, March 22nd at info@ilovebaroda.com, and visit ilovebaroda.com to learn more about the association and becoming a member.
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM contributor
