SOUTH HADLEY — Area businesses will be on display Thursday for the first Spotlight on South Hadley Businesses, a new event designed to showcase new and established companies in town.

The event, hosted by Know Your Town and the South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m in the South Hadley High School cafeteria.

“The idea behind this program is to showcase and support the range of businesses that service South Hadley and beyond,” event organizer Linda Young wrote in an email. “Home occupation has expanded and many people don’t even know they exist. Older, well established businesses can be off of residents radar as well so this program will highlight what we have.”

About 30 business have registered for the free event although the number may fluctuate some, according to Dale Johnston, executive director of the chamber.

Looking through the list of registered attendees, Johnston said Monday there was a diverse group of businesses including graphic designers, a local coffee shop owner, a motorcycle business, a movie theater and a yoga and wellness business.

Beers and Story Funeral Homes is one of the local businesses registered to participate.

“As being part of the community, we feel that we like to support the community and be there as one of the businesses in the community and letting folks know of some of the service we provide and the importance of them,” said Marc G. Gaudreau, an owner and director at Beers and Story Funeral Homes.

Gaudreau said the funeral home is involved in many of the things the chamber does as well as those in other communities were they have locations.

“Some people aren’t aware of all the products and services of the business out there,” Gaudreau said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for the business owners and the community to come together.”

The event will give businesses the chance to distribute brochures, fliers, business cards and whatever other promotional material while gaining some communication skills and visibility, Johnston explained.

In addition to giving businesses the opportunity to meet one another and area residents, Johnston said the event fosters community spirit.

“It’s like a Chamber Table Top or Crafts Fair event but it’s free to the business and the public,” according to the organization.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.

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