NORWICH – Local entrepreneurs and business leaders filed into Park Place Restaurant in Norwich Friday for the city’s Business Improvement District annual meeting.

Following a formal introduction from BID Director Roz DeRensis, members of the BID quickly got down to business, renewing terms of board members and approving previous meeting minutes before celebrating the success of the organization. This year’s guest speaker, Martin Dietrich, NBT Bank president, commended the BID for its efforts and the BID’s annual Commitment to Community Award was granted to this year’s recipient, Eric Larsen for his dedication to improving the downtown area.

BID board members and guest speakers highlighted achievements of the organization from the last year, which include another successful round of Main Street grant funding that helped commercial property and business owners improve storefronts along North and South Broad streets; and renovations of East and West parks that were finally completed last fall, bringing nearly eight years of planning, fundraising, and vision for the parks to fruition.

“The parks are just one example of what you do and it wouldn’t have been possible without the BID,” Larsen stated upon receiving his award. “The effects are obvious of what you do ... You should be applauded for really caring about your hometown.”