If you didn’t know Princeton had a business association, you’re not alone — because until very recently, it didn’t. It started, as many good things in small towns do, with a handful of people in a living room. About ten local business people gathered at a private residence sometime in 2025 to talk about an idea: what if Princeton’s business owners promoted each other, raised awareness about what’s here in town, and built something lasting? The Select Board had posted an interest-gathering session around the same time, asking whether there was appetite for exactly that kind of coalition. There was. Over the past year, that group — myself included — has been meeting regularly, studying how other towns have done this, and quietly building.
We created a board of directors and a slate of officers: Gabi Bennett of The Barn Princeton as President, me as Vice President, Anne-Marie Buchenan of AL-AN Manufacturing as Secretary, Alixis Van Horn of Wachusett Botox as Communications Director, and Jen Lovett of Liberty Tax as Treasurer.
We registered as a 501(c)(6) organization — an IRS tax-exempt classification for nonprofit membership organizations — which means we can accept donations.
We just launched our website — visitprincetonma.org — which includes a directory of Princeton-area businesses. Did you know there are at least 110 businesses in Princeton? Farms, artists, tradespeople, restaurants, wellness providers, pet services, retail shops — the range is genuinely surprising, and it’s all right here in town. The directory is a good place to poke around.
The goal behind all of this is to support Princeton’s local businesses by fostering connection, collaboration, and a sense of community. The PBA isn’t the Chamber of Commerce; it’s something more locally focused and grassroots, built around Princeton’s particular character and needs. As our President Gabi Bennett put it on our new site: the PBA has been a way to connect with fellow business owners and the community, and to find vetted, reliable contractors and service providers. That’s the idea in a nutshell.
Come to the Lawn-ch Party
On Thursday, June 11 from 5:30–7:30 PM, we’re holding our first mixer on the lawn at The Barn in Princeton, 174 Worcester Road. We’re calling it a Lawn-ch Party. This is a casual, open event. If you live in Princeton, own a business here, sit on a board or committee, or just care about what’s happening in town — we’d love to meet you. There will be food, drinks, and raffles, including four WooSox tickets courtesy of our event sponsor, Fidelity Bank, plus a variety of prizes donated by local businesses.
If you own a small business in Princeton and we haven’t been in touch yet, please reach out. And if you’d like to get involved or learn more about what the PBA is building — this is the place to start.
