<Home
About the
Downtown Milford Business Association
-
The Downtown Milford Business Association (DMBA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the cultural, economic development, agricultural and vitality of downtown Milford. By executing a high-impact calendar of 40+ annual experiences—uniting arts, music, farmers market, commerce, and downtown beautification—we champion our New England heritage, strengthen our local community lifestyle, and attract thousands of visitors from Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Long Island.
Our organization is powered by a collective of 200+ members, including local merchants, service providers, and regional stakeholders from Milford and neighboring towns. Together, we ensure a thriving, regionally accessible destination where business innovation and community identity flourish together. -
Our vision is to build a community where families create the stories that last a lifetime, where the experiences of childhood become the traditions of tomorrow—we keep the spirit of Milford alive and ensure our local small businesses thrive for generations to come.
Your Coastal Hub for Culture, Commerce, and Community.
Plan your visit, grow your business, and get involved today.
Every experience we host is designed with intention, from the atmosphere we create to the way each event flows, with
01
Local Heartbeat
02
Collaborative
Energy
03
Lasting Memories
Programs
Arts & Culture
The Arts & Culture Program is the creative heartbeat of Downtown Milford, utilizing a high-impact calendar of 40+ annual experiences—including Pirates Day, the Fair on the Half Shell, CT Foodie Fest, public performances, exhibitions, and cultural celebrations—to activate our public spaces. By providing a platform for artists, makers, musicians, performers, and cultural organizations to showcase their work, we create immersive experiences that inspire creativity, innovation, and discovery.
Through visual arts, live music, performance, storytelling, culinary arts, and interactive programming, the initiative expands access to culture while fostering learning, creativity, and community connection. These experiences celebrate Milford’s unique coastal identity while strengthening the relationship between residents, visitors, and the creative community.
Arts and culture are essential drivers of placemaking, tourism, and economic vitality. By transforming streets, parks, and gathering spaces into vibrant destinations, the program encourages exploration, increases visitor engagement, supports local businesses, and creates pathways for artists and creatives to thrive. Strategic investment in arts and culture helps preserve Milford’s heritage while building new traditions that connect generations and contribute to a vibrant future.
Farmers Market
The Farmers Market Program is a seasonal agricultural program that centers on inspiring the youngest generations as the heart of our mission. More than a place for local food access, it is a foundational community space where stories begin and generations grow together.
Through an intentional approach to food access, we inspire healthy relationships with nutrition from an early age by creating interactive experiences that plant the seeds of lifelong wellness. Weekly seasonal markets, educational programming, children's activities, local artisan participation, and wellness-focused experiences encourage families to build healthy habits while supporting Connecticut farmers and small businesses.
Families have access to fresh produce, meat, eggs, and more than 50 locally made products, including organic, gluten-free, and vegan options, while supporting a sustainable farm-to-table food system that connects farms across Connecticut with Milford and surrounding communities.
As inspiring younger generations is at the heart of our mission, programs like the Children's Market and Piglets Club introduce children to agriculture through hands-on learning, arts and crafts, and interactive activities. Through Piglets Club, participating children earn $1 to purchase their own fruits and vegetables, teaching financial responsibility while fostering a lasting appreciation for local agriculture.
Community Engagement & Tourism
The Community Engagement & Tourism Program positions Downtown Milford as a year-round coastal destination where residents and visitors experience the community's unique character, hospitality, and quality of life. Through thoughtfully curated seasonal programming, family-friendly events, walking tours, downtown activations, and longstanding traditions, the program creates meaningful opportunities for people to gather, explore, and strengthen their connection to downtown.
By leveraging arts and culture as a catalyst for tourism and economic growth, the program attracts visitors from across Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, and Long Island while encouraging them to discover local businesses. Convenient access via Metro-North, the Milford Harbor, and abundant free downtown parking makes Downtown Milford an accessible destination for regional travelers.
This program cultivates a sense of belonging and reinforces Downtown Milford as a community where childhood experiences become lifelong traditions. In doing so, it increases regional awareness, inspires repeat visitation, strengthens Milford's reputation as one of Connecticut's premier coastal destinations, and creates a thriving downtown where visitors and residents support local businesses, strengthen community identity, and sustain traditions for generations.
Memberbership Program
The Membership Program connects more than 250 member businesses with opportunities to increase visibility, promote their brand, and engage with residents and visitors through DMBA’s marketing platforms, events, and business resources. Membership levels are designed to provide businesses with tailored benefits based on their needs, including website listings and links, new member announcements through social media and email, social media reshares, discounted event vendor spaces, complimentary Farmers Market vendor spaces, advertising opportunities through the Downtown Guidebook, and eligibility for select event programming.
Through DMBA’s annual events and promotional efforts, members receive additional exposure through coordinated campaigns across print, press, television, digital platforms, and social media, reaching more than 15,000 followers and generating over 650,000 annual views. These efforts help businesses connect with customers, participate in community-driven initiatives, and strengthen their presence within the Downtown Milford business community.
While many members are located in Downtown Milford, the membership network extends throughout Connecticut, including businesses from New Haven, Ansonia, Westport, Fairfield, Shelton, Bridgeport, and surrounding communities, forming a Connecticut statewide network that creates opportunities for collaboration, shared resources, and stronger connections among local businesses.
Active participation in DMBA initiatives is key to maximizing the benefits of membership. By engaging in events, promotions, and collaborative opportunities, businesses strengthen their visibility, build lasting relationships, and remain top of mind among residents and visitors when purchasing decisions are made.
Partnership & Sponsorship Program
The Partnership & Sponsorship Program creates meaningful opportunities for businesses, nonprofits, foundations, government agencies, and community organizations to invest in the continued growth and vitality of Downtown Milford. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration, organizations align their goals with initiatives that support economic development, cultural programming, tourism, and families..
Investment from sponsors, partners, and donors plays a vital role in sustaining the programs, events, and experiences that define Downtown Milford. These contributions help keep many community experiences free and accessible while allowing organizations to give back, strengthen community connections, and align their support with initiatives that create lasting impact.
Partners gain meaningful recognition through DMBA’s marketing campaigns, including press, television, news coverage, digital campaigns, print materials, social media, email communications, and on-site brand activations. These opportunities allow organizations to share their stories and celebrate the values they bring to the community. Downtown Milford is more than a place—it is the people, memories, and experiences created together. Through their generosity and commitment, partners help nurture the connections that make Downtown Milford a place where families gather, traditions are created, businesses prosper, and people feel a true sense of belonging.
Downtown Activation & Public Space Program
The Downtown Activation & Public Space Program transforms Downtown Milford’s streets, parks, and gathering spaces into vibrant, welcoming environments that inspire exploration and enhance the everyday experience of residents and visitors. By recognizing public spaces as essential community infrastructure, the program creates accessible places where people can connect, engage, and and enhance the quality of life within the community.
Through seasonal beautification, public art, interactive installations, wayfinding, community displays, and neighborhood activations, the program brings new energy and purpose to Downtown Milford’s public spaces while honoring the culture, identity, and pride that define the community. These efforts are reflected through initiatives such as Celebrate Milford Grads, Hearts for Milford, holiday displays, and interactive public experiences, which highlight local stories, traditions, and milestones that make Downtown Milford a unique place to gather and explore.
By investing in intentional public space activation, the program strengthens Downtown Milford’s role as a destination while supporting economic development through increased pedestrian activity, longer visitor engagement, and greater visibility for local businesses. These efforts create a more vibrant downtown environment where public spaces serve as catalysts for community connection, tourism, and continued economic growth.
Economic Development Program
The Economic Development Program serves as the strategic framework that connects DMBA’s programs and guides the organization’s efforts to strengthen the long-term vitality, competitiveness, and sustainability of Downtown Milford. Through coordinated investments in tourism, placemaking, arts and cultural programming, public spaces, and business support, the program creates a comprehensive approach to strengthening the local economy while fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration.
DMBA strengthens this economic ecosystem by leveraging destination development, marketing platforms, promotional efforts, events, and business resources that increase regional awareness, attract visitors, encourage local spending, and create opportunities for businesses to grow their visibility and reach new audiences. These efforts help member businesses remain engaged within a broader network, participate in community-driven initiatives, and benefit from the collective impact of a thriving downtown economy.
DMBA is committed to strengthening its understanding of visitor behavior, tourism trends, foot-traffic patterns, community engagement, and regional travel opportunities to inform future program development, evaluate impact, and guide strategic investments.
DMBA Contacts
Executive Board
President: Tracy Bonosconi
dmbamilford@gmail.com
Vice-President: John Wezenski
dmbavicepres@gmail.com
Secretary: Evan Cassidy
dmbasecretary@gmail.com
Treasure: Carol Navarro
dmbatreasury@gmail.com
DMBA Staff
Executive Director: Sara Carroll
DmbaED@gmail.com
PR / Marketing Director: Maritza Quintuna
DmbaPR@gmail.com
Events Director: MaryJo Downs
Dmbaevents@gmail.com
Contact
Questions regarding the organization, membership or events? Please reach out to us via email or at the information below:
PO Box 465
Milford, CT 06460
DMBA Executive Director:
Sara Carroll
DmbaED@gmail.com
203-951-6220
Follow our journey.
Stay Connected
Sign Up for E-Newsletter
FAQs
-
From our CT Foodie Fest at Wasson Field to the Fair on the Half Shell (50+ Year Coastal Tradition), we host signature events throughout the year—spring, summer, fall, and winter. Whether you’re planning a Connecticut day trip, a hidden gem escape from NYC, or looking for things to do near New Haven or Fairfield County, our DMBA-hosted events are the perfect destination. Explore our [Events Calendar] to plan your visit.
-
We invite local makers, artisans, and businesses to apply as vendors for our seasonal events. If you are searching for how to become a vendor in Milford, CT for our spring, summer, fall, or winter event schedule, our application portal is open to all qualified regional partners. Visit our [Vendor Application Page] to view dates and submit your request.
-
A vendor participates in our specific festivals on a per-event basis. If you have been a vendor for multiple DMBA events, we encourage you to become a member to receive vendor discounts, three free vendor spaces at our Farmers Market, and many more opportunities throughout the year. As a member, we support your brand further through dedicated social media exposure and additional marketing opportunities throughout the year.
-
Yes. Our association represents a broad business community that extends across Connecticut. Membership is open to all businesses throughout the state that want to use our marketing tools and participate in our year-round event programming. We are dedicated to fostering brand exposure for all local partners, regardless of their specific business location.
-
We partner with corporate and local sponsors looking to give back to the community or seeking high-impact brand visibility. Our partners gain direct exposure to thousands of attendees through our signature event calendar, including our Farmers Market. We provide custom sponsorship packages tailored to your goals. Contact our team [here] to review our partnership prospectus and align your brand with our statewide event initiatives.