After a spring break, the monthly Love The Ave Newsletter from the New Bedford TDI District is back! 

And not a moment too soon, as the summer season swings into high gear. So let’s just jump back in with our first item….

Celebrating National Immigrant Heritage Month in New Bedford

The MassDevelopment New Bedford TDI District was thrilled to co-host an immigrant-owned business roundtable with Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) Secretary Yvonne Hao in honor of National Immigrant Heritage Month on Wednesday, June 12.

The roundtable was a terrific opportunity to showcase and celebrate the vibrant New Bedford business community in the north end and throughout the city. It provided a valuable platform for immigrant small businesses to gain visibility and elevate their needs with the Secretary. Participants shared honest feedback while discussing challenges, advocating for increased support, and addressing issues related to resource accessibility.

During the program, New Bedford TDI District and its partners highlighted success stories from the Patio de Comidas (see below), the TDI Local program, and other initiatives benefiting immigrant-owned businesses in the City of New Bedford.

The business roundtable was held at Our Lady of Angels Band and Cultural Center at 1446 Acushnet Avenue. Check out the photo set below for a look at what proved to be an engaging and lively afternoon on The Ave! 

Patio de Comidas Returns to Riverside Park

Riverside Park, beautifully situated along the Acushnet River in New Bedford’s North End, once again becomes a haven for food lovers with the return of Patio de Comidas. Starting on June 29 and continuing almost every Saturday until August 24, this outdoor food patio series offers a delicious journey through the cuisines of Central and Latin American countries.

Date: Beginning Saturday, June 29
Location: Riverside Park, North End New Bedford

Event Highlights:

• Cuisine: Central American and other Latin American dishes.
• Special Culmination Event: Festival Tipico Guatemalteco on August 24, featuring Guatemalan music, dance, art, and additional culinary delights.
• Hours: 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Bullard Street and Belleville Avenue entrance of Riverside Park.
• Weather Contingency: In case of rain, the event will be rescheduled to the CEDC parking lot at 235 North Front St. on Sunday.

Patio de Comidas, spearheaded by the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC), has grown from a small pilot project into a beloved summer tradition. According to CEDC Executive Director Corinn Williams, “Patio de Comidas arose from a CEDC pilot program which sought to assist New Bedford residents originally from Latin America about how to navigate the city’s health and safety regulations to become a local food vendor.” (Photo above by Josh Souza, courtesy of New Bedford Creative.)

The Summer Schedule for Patio de Comidas is:

• June 29
• July 13
• July 20
• July 27
• August 10
• August 17
• August 24 (with Festival Tipico Guatemalteco)

Note: There will be no events on July 6 (4th of July holiday) and August 3 (Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Portuguese Feast).

Stay updated on schedule changes by visiting LoveTheAve on Facebook.

GROUNDBREAKING

On Tuesday, June 25 our partners at the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its Capitol Theater project on Acushnet Avenue. For new readers, the Capitol Theater rests on the corner of Acushnet Avenue and Deane Street in the heart of the commercial corridor that forms the TDI District. Read more on this website at this link via a City of New Bedford News Release. 

North End Food Tour

The North End Food Tour by New Bedford Food Tours launched on Saturday, June 22 and featured a gastronomic journey through six Acushnet Avenue eateries, along with stops to admire local art, architecture, and history.

New Bedford TDI District and New Bedford Creative team members got a sneak peek a few weeks before. NB Food Tours co-founder Pan Shwartz guided about a dozen folks through hotspots like La Raza Taquira and Casa Lempira. Pam’s secret recipe is knowledge about the cuisine, generously seasoned with local history and culture. 

These guided tours are a perfect way to explore the culinary landscape of New Bedford and the South Coast while soaking in local culture and history. The launch on June 22 garnered a feature story on Southcoast Today by Seth Chitwood, which you can read here.

The next North End Food Tour happens on Saturday, July 6; find out more and get tickets here. 

SRPEDD Pedestrian Plan Survey

The Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) is updating the Southeastern Regional Pedestrian Plan and wants your input! Your feedback is crucial for improving walking infrastructure across the region. 

With its many walkable neighborhoods – like the area of and around Acushnet Avenue in the TDI District – New Bedford’s input is highly valued. Plus, grant allocations of all sorts could be based on the data collected! So be sure to take the survey today. 

Learn more and take the survey at SRPEDD Pedestrian Plan Survey.

Riverside Beats is Back!

Date: Sunday, July 14

Experience the magic of Riverside Beats, an event described by New Moon Dance Party as a celebration of dance, music, and community: Picture this: people dancing in the sunshine, kids playing with bubbles and hula hoops, flow artists performing, and soulful house and daytime disco filling the air. It’s a party for everyone, happening just once this year, so don’t miss out!

“Come enjoy the cool breezes from the Acushnet River and the perfect summer vibes. Bring a blanket, relax, and soak in the joyous atmosphere.”

DID YOU KNOW…?

The Community Economic Development Center is now located at 235 N. Front Street, New Bedford. Read about their opening party at this link: The CEDC introduces its new home(s) – #LoveTheAve

• The New Bedford TDI District is a diverse and vibrant neighborhood in the central economic corridor of the city’s North End. This distinct neighborhood is characterized by its linear commercial spine of small business storefronts on the ground level of one- and two-story tenement structures along with ethnic restaurants, cafes, bakeries, churches, and social clubs. The supporting dense neighborhood is comprised primarily of multifamily housing for legacy Portuguese-descent residents and Latino, Hispanic, and Central American immigrant populations. At the forefront of priorities for the New Bedford TDI Partnership is place-based economic development that focuses on small-business development, entrepreneurship, and public realm improvements with an arts-and-culture-based approach. Adelsa Mendes is the TDI fellow for the New Bedford TDI District. You can reach her at [email protected]