Towamencin Business Alliance Gives Voice to Township Commerce

Towamencin Township businesses now have a voice to improve their networking and commercial environment.

For the past seven months, the nonprofit Towamencin Business Alliance has gathered more than 35 business representatives from within the borders of the township to come together in a proactive way to boost communication.

It all started with Coffeehead proprietor and Towamencin Business Alliance Chairwoman Kim Diehl, who wanted something more from her time on the township's Economic Development Committee.

"I was on the Economic Development Committee and everything I asked — 'How do you start a business in Towamencin?' 'How can we change the business environment?' — the answer was every time, 'You, the business, needs to.' There was no way to find out what businesses are in town. I couldn't figure out what group represents Towamencin businesses. So, I started one," Diehl said.

She said members of the alliance "get things done."

"The group is concerned about getting the township together," she said. "This is for communication than anything else. We are not about politics. We all help each other."

Like every committee, things are starting out slow, but the response has been very positive.

"This is a way to unite us, to make us strong," she said. "We have a voice."

Think of it as a chamber of commerce without being a chamber of commerce.

"It promotes networking and retention of businesses," said Towamencin Business Alliance Board of Director Bob Di Domizio. "We are very secular to just Towamencin Township."

Member businesses include, to name a few: RAD Engineering Corp., Easter Seals, BBL Pipe Co., Jack Rabbit Auto Tags, Hopwood School, Holiday Inn, North Penn Dental Arts, Freddy Hill Farm, Stein Seal Co., Hodgson Quick Print, Costlow Consulting, Roy Lomas Carpet and Romeo's Fine Arts.

Diehl said a common conception is people do not know Kulpsville, let alone Towamencin.

"I'm here seven years, and I had no idea there was a guy whose business his in eyeglasses. There are a lot of businesses that we don't see," Diehl said. "We are a support network. A lot of people drive through Towamencin and don't realize it."

Diehl expects the alliance to grow in popularity by this time next year. A meeting Tuesday morning at Univest in Kulpsville featured an agenda that discussed finalizing a new logo; developing a calendar for social events in the community; and promoting its agenda and connecting with the Economic Development Committee, the Towamencin Police Benevolent Association and Towamencin Youth Association.

The Towamencin Business Alliance will hold a business mixer for Towamencin businesses on Jan. 10, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Beneficial Mutual Savings Bank, 1600 Sumneytown Pike.

It is also pushing more social media connections through Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Marketplace and Patch.com. The alliance has a website under construction at www.towamencinbusinessalliance.com.

"These people are workers and their hearts are in the right place," Diehl said. "They want to do the best for Towamencin."

The alliance is broken down into voting and supporting memberships, with voting members restricted to one representative from a company within Towamencin Township. 

It is governed by a board of directors of seven members that hold one-year terms. Current board members include Diehl, Vice Chairman Bonnie Mason of CAD Concepts, Treasurer Deb Keller of Family Services, Secretary Emma Hodgson of Asher's Chocolates and board directors Di Domizio of RAD Engineering Corp., Terri Weber of Beneficial Bank and Bob Rau of BBL.

The alliance meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. at Univest at Sumneytown Pike and Forty Foot Road in Kulpsville.

Follow TBA on Facebook at this link.