Kenneth MacCormac, Chairman of the The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications for the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 Side Street to Main Street Business and Leadership Development Program for small, minority-owned businesses.  The unique and award-winning program is entering its 12th year of operation in the County.

To date, 129 graduates have used what they learned to build success and reduce the risk of failure in both the business and personal aspects of their lives.  A number of graduates presently own businesses located in Middletown’s Downtown District.

The Side Street program is funded by a grant from the Aetna Foundation and is facilitated by professionals from the Essex Group.

Candidates must attend the mandatory orientation session at the Middlesex Chamber on September 3, 2008 at 7 p.m. to be eligible for the program.  The program runs weekly from October 8, 2008, through February 2009.  This will be followed by three quarterly meetings beginning in March 2009 and ending on September 16, 20009.

Applicants are asked to contact Jennifer De Kine at the Chamber at 860-347-6924, or email her at for details.