Nonprofit Builds Furniture, Rebuilds Lives Special to Today Magazine
BUSINESS BEAT
FRESH START Pallet Products is a local nonprofit that builds furniture from recycled wood and rebuilds lives. Established in 2015 in the backyard of Hartford’s Grace Lutheran Church, Fresh Start repurposes wood shipping pallets to fashion sturdy and affordable benches, chairs and other furniture. These pallets typically litter industrial sites or are discarded. Today, Fresh Start Pallet is housed in a 12,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Sargeant Street in Hartford. Fresh Start employs a win-win hiring approach — most employees are rebuilding their lives after battles with addiction, alcoholism, poverty and the like. The nonprofit provides its handcrafted outdoor and indoor furniture for a variety of Connecticut customers. Four board members — one-third of the board — live in the Farmington Valley. www.freshstartpalletproducts.org
After moving to Collinsville, where his wife grew up, Johnson explored ways to turn his love of baking into a business. Renting or building a commercial kitchen wasn’t feasible, but in October 2018 Connecticut became the latest state to pass a cottage-food law, allowing people to prepare and sell approved foods from their home kitchens. Johnson procured his license in early 2020 but put things on hold as the pandemic began. In November, while acting primarily as a stay-at-home parent, he launched his modern vision for selling old-world baked goods. Customers receive deliveries of their favorite breads every two weeks and can customize from an extensive specialty menu. Johnson bakes meticulously tested recipes, from rustic ciabattas and sourdoughs to decadent brioche loaves and porridge breads loaded with whole grains, seeds and molasses. www.companybread.com
Business Debuts By Giving Back
AN AVON STARTUP has debuted by helping a local nonprofit raise over $3,000. Happy Plant Project began its business life in 2021 by partnering with Gifts of Love, the Avon-based social service agency. Happy Plant Project delivered dozens of red roses, wrapped bouquets and seasonal flowers to customers in Greater Hartford. Five of the nonprofit’s clients in Avon, Hartford and Simsbury received surprise deliveries. “A donor gave money to the fundraiser to purchase five arrangements for Gifts of Love clients,” says Jonny Grenier, coowner of Happy Plant Project along with his wife Allie. “We were especially happy
to bring unexpected joy to people who were not anticipating it.” This was the nonprofit’s first-ever Valentine’s Day fundraiser. Gifts of Love accepts donations of food, clothing and household goods year-round. www.giftsoflovect.org
Company Bread: Artisan Quality
COMPANY BREAD brings freshly baked, naturally leavened bread to the Farmington Valley and beyond. The licensed cottage-food operation is run by Collinsville resident Colin Johnson, who bakes artisan breads and pastries in his home kitchen.
New Frame of Mind
FRAME OF MIND Consulting aims to help business owners re-imagine the way they do business, giving them tools to generate new ideas and shift perspectives. Established in 2013, Frame of Mind sees the value of business decision-makers retaining creative control and strives for tangible results — whether the company is large, small or medium-sized. “We can help you connect the dots in re-imagining solutions to achieve bottom-line value for your business,” says innovation consultant Page A. Thibault, “opening up opportunities you didn’t know existed.” Frame of Mind Consulting is a member of the Avon Chamber of Commerce. www.frameofmindconsulting.biz
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