NORWICH - Local entrepreneur and artist, Jill Kraft, is nearing the final stages of moving her business just a few doors up South Broad Street; several leaps and bounds from where she started what seems like many years ago.

Kraft, owner of The Artists’ Palette presently located at 29 South Broad St. in downtown Norwich, will soon be occupying the former Salvation Army store, more affectionately known to elder natives as the “Fishmans” building at 17-19 South Broad St. Extensive renovations, which included an asbestos abatement are nearly completed, and soon the finishing touches will be applied like the last strokes of oil and acrylic to canvas.

“We are very excited about having the new location completely finished and open to the public by the end of winter, if not sooner,” said Kraft.

Kraft, a Norwich native, has been planning for years what will be the largest fine arts showcase in the county, carefully overseeing her realized dream come to life. Kraft’s passion for her concept of a community-based arts center becomes very apparent in talking with her and integrating services for artists of all ages and abilities reiterates her desire to keep the community engaged in the arts.