11 Middlesex Businesses Receive Growth-Focused Grant Funding

The MCRC Business Operating Grants add over $200,000 to the Local Economy

September 9, 2025

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — A diverse group of small businesses from across Middlesex County will be able to grow and remain resilient in the face of unforeseen challenges with the help of $220,000 recently awarded through the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission Business Operating Grants.

This most recent distribution to eleven businesses follows the first two rounds of 2023 and 2024, when $380,000 of grant funding was provided to thirty-one Middlesex County businesses, for a total of $600,000 distributed in the three years of the grant program. The program, funded by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, offers grants of up to $25,000 and technical assistance to qualified small businesses in Middlesex County, Connecticut, with 50% of the funding allocated to minority-, women-, veteran-, or disabled-owned businesses.

“We are so pleased to be able to provide the Business Operating Grants to benefit our region’s small businesses, “said MCRC Chair Darlene Briggs, representing Westbrook, “Our communities were built and are now sustained by small businesses, and these grants provide a boost to business owners, making a real impact on their business, its growth, and overall profitability.”

The 2025 grant recipients are:

Autos of Westbrook (Superior Autos), Westbrook, an award-winning auto collision and repair shop that has been in Westbrook for 43 years. The grant funding will assist in purchasing an ADAS system to accurately calibrate the highly complex computer-driven systems in new cars. https://www.superiorautoshop.com/

Connecticut Hospitality Company, Westbrook, the owners of two shoreline inns, The Westbrook Inn and the Captain Stannard. The grant funding will assist in the purchase of meeting room equipment and furniture, as well as website updates and print promotion, to fully realize the opportunity to host small business events and retreats. https://www.westbrookinn.com/ and https://stannardhouse.com/

Forest City Brewing, Middletown, a brewery located in the Remington Rand Building. The grant funding will be used to purchase additional seating, advanced refrigeration components, and other bar essentials to expand the brewery’s taproom and allow additional food options.  https://my-site-105677-108436.square.site/

Harrie’s Hospitality, Middletown, the owner of Harrie’s Jailhouse, a neighborhood sandwich shop and basement bar. The grant funding will be used to relocate and improve the kitchen preparation area and to expand the second-floor dining area. https://www.harriesjailhouse.com/

Honeycone Cream Co., Chester, is a family-owned and operated scoop shop. The grant funding will support staffing and equipment to expand production operations that supply the wholesale restaurant and grocery market. https://www.honeyconecreamco.com/

Hope Preschool, Deep River, a Christian early childhood education center. The grant funding will contribute to the construction costs of expanding a classroom, providing more space for additional children and increasing overall enrollment.  https://www.hopepreschoolllc.com/

Kelli’s Kitchen, Middletown, is a woman-owned catering company servicing weddings, corporate, non-profit, and private parties. The grant funding will be used to construct a commercial kitchen to accommodate the growing demand. https://www.kelliskitchenct.com/

Littleman’s Texas BBQ, East Hampton, award-winning Texas BBQ. Grant funding will be used to purchase a mobile food trailer to bring BBQ on the road, serve at local breweries, fairs, and food festivals, and provide catering for private events. https://littlemanstxbbq.com/

A Pocketful of Posies, Middletown, is a family-owned and operated retail business selling women’s clothing and accessories, bath and body products, home décor, and special occasion gifts.  The grant funding will enable the purchase of an updated point-of-sale system to better track inventory and increase efficiency.  https://www.posiesmiddletown.com/

Quarry Ridge Golf Course, Portland, is a public 18-hole golf course, restaurant, bar, and banquet facility. The grant funding will be used towards the purchase of a new lighting system to increase daily play for four to five hours and increase the number of tee times available. https://www.quarryridge.com/

Tony’s Flour Shop, Cromwell, a LGBTQ+ owned, small-batch, artisan bakery and coffeehouse. The grant funding will be used to purchase new seating for indoor and outdoor dining and to help upgrade bakery equipment to increase capacity and product offerings. https://tonysflourshop.com/

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About the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission

The Middlesex County Revitalization Commission was created by a special act of the CT General Assembly in 1993, with a mission to encourage and stimulate economic development in Middlesex County by providing low-interest loans and/or matching grants to small and mid-sized businesses in the region. The members of the Middlesex County Revitalization Commission (MCRC) are the chief executive official, or a designee, from each of the fifteen towns in Middlesex County, plus a representative from the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. Visit https://mxcrc.org  for more information.