In the news: Northwest chamber sponsors 4th business showcase

TORRINGTON – The Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the fourth annual “Great Giveaway Business Showcase” on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Warner Theater’s Carole and Ray Neag Performing Arts Center, 82 Main St.

The free event will include free food and a cash bar. It will feature more than 30 vendors, each with a door prize for attendees to enter to win. Some of the door prizes include $300 worth of gas and car washes, camping gear, gift certificates and gift baskets. No purchase in necessary to win. The first 100 attendees will also receive a free gift.

For information, call 860-482-6586, or visit nwctchamberofcommerce.org.

Business networking event conducted by Waterbury chamber

The Waterbury Regional Chamber invites chamber members and potential new members to its next Out for Business networking event, taking place on July 20 at Develomark in Plantsville.

The event,from 5:30 to 7 p.m., gives attendees the opportunity to mingle, network and enjoy food from Café Bravado and drinks in the historic Clark Brothers factory that’s located in the Plantsville section of Plainville. Attendees will also have the chance to win door prizes. Also, attendees will have the opportunity to sit down with Develomark’s digital marketing experts for a free, five-minute website audit to gain on-the-spot insight on the design, content and functionality of your company website.

Out for Business is sponsored by the event host Develomark, a full-service design, search, and advertising agency that was founded in 2017. Over the past five years, the company has grown from a one-man operation into a team that includes expert graphic designers, content writers, account managers, and search engine optimization specialists.

For information about the company, visit develomark.com

The cost for members is $25. Potential members are welcome to visit one Out for Business as a guest of the chamber.

To register for the event, call 203-757-0701 or visit waterburychamber.com and click on the “Events & Sponsors” tab.

Ion Financial acquiring BCI Financial later in year, without layoffs

Naugatuck-based Ion Financial, MHC, parent company of Ion Bank, announced that it has entered into an agreement with BCI Financial, a Cheshire-based, independently owned and operated finance company specializing in automobile lending, to acquire the assets of BCI Financial later this year.

BCI will continue to operate in its Cheshire location under the same name BCI Financial, as a division of Ion Bank. There will be no layoffs as a result of the acquisition.

Ion Bank President and CEO David Rotatori said, “This acquisition allows Ion to remain a strong, independent, community-focused bank and expand our business holdings through the automobile financing program that BCI is known for.”

Timothy Rourke, president and CEO of BCI Financial, added, “We expect to continue with no change in our operations and we look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with Ion Financial.”

The deal, pending regulatory approval, is expected to close later in 2022.