Calling all dreamers, doers, and local champions! Join us on Monday, May 12th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the vibrant Restaurante y Tortilleria Guatemalteco (1282 Acushnet Ave, New Bedford, MA) for an energizing morning of community connection and entrepreneurial inspiration.
Grounds for Growth is more than just your average coffee hour—it’s a chance to connect directly with state and local leaders who are here to support YOUR small business dreams. Brought to you in partnership with the Office of the MA State Treasurer and Receiver General, Executive Office of Economic Development, MassDevelopment TDI, Community Economic Development Center (CEDC), New Bedford Economic Development Council (NBEDC), and Eastern Bank, this event will shine a spotlight on the resources, funding opportunities, and strategic tools available to help your business thrive.
🔹 Dynamic presentations in English with live Spanish interpretation
🔹 Roundtable discussions with experts
🔹 Networking opportunities with local movers and shakers
🔹 RSVP today to Adelsa Mendes at [email protected] or call 781-309-3266
This event is part of an exciting wave of small business workshops powered by the New Bedford TDI Partnership, helping businesses along Acushnet Avenue bloom and grow.
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Spotlight: MANKA – Culinary Consulting That Transforms Visions into Ventures
As we shared last month, Acushnet Avenue eateries have been participating in a special series of workshops brought to the city by the New Bedford TDI Partnership. This month, we’d like to introduce to you the firm conducting the workshops.
MANKA is a powerhouse in FoodService Consulting & Design with over seven years of experience elevating the food industry. With a sharp focus on culinary innovation, MANKA has helped countless restaurants and food startups find their flavor and flourish.
Whether you’re dreaming up your first café or looking to streamline your operations for sustainable growth, MANKA offers end-to-end services—from concept development and kitchen design to business strategy and branding. Their passion? Helping entrepreneurs succeed in the ever-evolving world of food.
And just last month, MANKA made waves by hosting the First Spanish Gastronomic Congress in Boston—an exciting platform for culinary creators and entrepreneurs to share, connect, and level up.
Check out their website here, and keep your eye out on The Ave for the results of their work in New Bedford.
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WHO’S HUNGRY? Restaurant Week Is Cooking Up a Comeback!
It was a beloved tradition. A celebration of culture, cuisine, and community. And now, after a pandemic pause, Restaurant Week is returning to Acushnet Avenue and the North End of New Bedford—and it’s going to be bigger, bolder, and more delicious than ever.
We’re reigniting this mouth-watering tour of the Avenue with fresh energy, showcasing the rich diversity and mouthwatering menus of local eateries that define our neighborhood’s flavor. From savory Guatemalan plates to sizzling seafood and soul-soothing classics, we’ve got your cravings covered.
Stay tuned for our official announcement on Facebook
(you definitely won’t want to miss what’s in store).
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IN THE NEWS
Nice story about a terrific start-up business that we’ve been fortunate to have at some of our very own New Bedford TDI events – Sishka Lemonade. “… in 2023, in a conversation with her daughter Tiana, who was approaching her 15th birthday, Linda and her husband asked her what she would like as a gift. The answer was surprising: I don’t want a cake, a present or a party. If you want to give me something, help me start a business.’” In Portuguese at this link, with English translation available at a click. Pictured: Shishka Lemonade at the Love The Ave Legacy Project in March, 2025.
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PUT SATURDAY, MAY 10 on your calendar and check out the Spring Open Studios tour at Hatch Street Studios, 88-90 Hatch Street just blocks off The Ave!!
Step into New Bedford’s largest community of artists, artisans, and designers as they open their doors from 10am-5pm for a full day of art, creativity, and connection. Wander through unique studio spaces, meet the makers, and experience firsthand the passion behind their work.
Enjoy live music, delicious local food, and the vibrant energy of a community built on creativity and collaboration.
Whether you’re an art lover, a curious explorer, or just looking for a fun day out—there’s something for everyone at Hatch Street Studios. Find out more here.
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BEGINNING THURSDAY, MAY 8: The Hatch Street Studios tour is actually part of ArtWeek SouthCoast, the dynamic regional arts festival, returns from Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 18, 2025, offering 50+ unique, hands-on, interactive, and behind-the-scenes experiences that invite residents and visitors alike to celebrate creativity in all its forms. From vibrant gallery exhibitions and live performances to poetry readings, painting demos, and family-friendly activities, ArtWeek SouthCoast is a regional collaboration that unites the community through the power of the arts.
Presented by the cities of Fall River and New Bedford and the towns of Dartmouth, Marion, Westport, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and Wareham, ArtWeek SouthCoast stands as a shining example of how municipalities can work together to amplify the impact of the creative economy.
For a full calendar of events and to plan your ArtWeek SouthCoast experience, visit artweeksouthcoast.org today and chart your own journey for this celebration from Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 18, 2025.
Until next month, Keep supporting local. Keep loving The Ave.
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– 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]