Business Association dissolves in favor of new Medina Area Partnership
Provided photo: Scott Robinson and Alix Gilman are the owners of the Shirt Factory in Medina. Mr. Robinson is the president of the newly formed Medina Area Partnership.
MEDINA – The Medina Business Association has been dissolved and a new organization, Medina Area Partnership, has been formed to help grow and promote the greater Medina area.
Scott Robinson, who owns Shirt Factory Café with his wife Alix, has been named acting president of Medina Area Partnership. He said MAP will be an official 501c6.
MAP will also include both members from within the 14103 zip code and several outside businesses which have a vested interest in the continual progress of the area, such as Takeform and Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Robinson said.
Cindy Robinson (no relation to Scott) has served as president of Medina Business Association for the last 14 years. She said for more than a decade the MBA has represented the Medina business community through events, communications and marketing.
“The Medina Area Partnership will create new ways to promote our area, while continuing successful events like Ale in Autumn and Wine About Winter,” Cindy said.
Cindy said she is more than willing to take a step down and spend more time in her store, the English Rose Tea Shoppe.
She explained the MBA had always operated since its inception under the umbrella of the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, and the membership decided it was time to be on their own.
“We have the funds and the manpower to stand on our own,” Cindy said. “This will allow us to apply for our own grants.”
“MAP aims to expand our focus while continuing to place an emphasis on the growth and success of our downtown business community,” Scott said. “The leadership, reputation and success of the MBA over several decades has allowed us to graduate into this new organization. There’s a reason the Buffalo News, Step Out Buffalo, Buffalo Spree and countless blogs have written about Medina in recent years. Our small community is a giant in the area, pulling together many voices with a common goal of being better tomorrow than we are today. What we’ve known about Medina for years is no longer a secret to those outside the area.”
The decision to end the Medina Business Association in favor of a new independent organization came after several informational presentations to the membership throughout the fall of 2019, leading to a vote by members to dissolve the MBA as an organization. This action will allow MAP to take over previous successful events, while continuing to add a focus on the greater Medina area.
Jim Hancock, head of Medina’s Tourism Committee, said he thinks this new direction will be very favorable for the village and the surrounding area. He has had conversations with MAP on how they and the Tourism Committee can work together more closely for the betterment of Medina. In the past, the MBA and Tourism Committee have worked together to sponsor events such as the annual day-long Christmas celebration and visits by the schooner Lois McClure to the Medina Canal Basin.
“We are all alike. We promote Medina,” Hancock said. “I think MAP may attract more companies located outside the village. It’s good to broaden our scope.”
MAP aims to provide a network for collaboration, education, growth and profitability, Scott said.
Cindy added the Chamber of Commerce was also all in favor of the dissolution.
“It’s a lot off my shoulders,” she said. “MAP is in good hands.”
Scott and his wife are both avid promoters of Medina. Cindy explained that Scott and Alex are both Medina natives who moved to Washington, D.C, where they met. After they married, they wanted to come back to their home town. Scott is also in marketing, which Cindy said will be a definite benefit for MAP.
As membership continues to grow, MAP is proud to announce the continuation of the successful Wine About Winter event, which is scheduled the first Saturday in February. Tickets can be purchased at www.medinaap.org/events.
