Westport is known for many things—great schools, beautiful beaches and natural assets, a vibrant arts community, amazing restaurants and retail shops, the only five-star library in the state—just to name a few.
As First Selectwoman and Second Selectwoman before that, I want to ensure that Westport continues to be the best place to live, work, play, and learn in the region – a place where everyone is welcome and feels like they belong. That is the North Star that guides me every day.
We don’t always talk enough about what makes Westport the best place to work and our incredibly engaged business owners who contribute so much to our community! Year in and year out, they support our residents, schools, nonprofits, and each other, creating an environment where everyone wins. A vibrant economy is a critical piece of what makes Westport so special. The dedication, talent, and energy our business owners bring to our community, many of whom are Westport and Weston residents, help propel our town to new heights. I have a long history of supporting our amazing business community through various initiatives.
Back in 2018, when the local economy was struggling, we launched Westport Means Business, a series of events designed to bring local business owners and entrepreneurs together to establish connections, exchange ideas and promote Westport as the best place to start and grow a successful business.
In the last few years, we’ve seen many tech founders and funders make Westport their home. As a result, StartUp Westport was launched. It is our goal to activate an ecosystem of tech and innovation leaders to enable and encourage entrepreneurship. Since its inception in 2023, we’ve hosted dozens of events, delivering content and offering networking opportunities that hundreds of you have attended. We’ve also started a Mentorship Program and Special
Interest Groups (SIGs). Today, this public/private partnership is well on its way to making Westport the startup tech and innovation hub of CT!
Recently, we recognized the growing desire for professional women of all industries and career paths to form a community. Westport is for Women has just been launched to offer networking opportunities, content delivery, and a support system for all local women. Please join us at our next event!
One of the things that I’ve learned in my role as your First Selectwoman is that some of the best ideas come from conversations with our business owners and residents. That’s why being out in the community and speaking to and learning from all of you is so important to me. Together we can continue to make Westport the best place to live, work, play, and learn in the region. And remember, please support our outstanding local business community – or become part of it!
"I want to ensure that Westport continues to be the best place to live, work, play, and learn....where everyone feels like they belong."