The Mid City West Community Council recently formed an Economic Development Committee to support business owners and local workers.

Business owners and employees are invited to attend a virtual monthly meeting on Sept. 22, at 7 p.m., via Zoom. The meetings will be held on the fourth Wednesday of subsequent months at 7 p.m. Agendas will be available by visiting midcitywest.org.

The committee’s mission is to promote and support businesses through policy education, awareness and community building. It also seeks to celebrate and connect existing and emerging entrepreneurs, and to engage, inform and connect business stakeholders with the City Council policy process.

“A dedicated committee is needed now because of the important role our local businesses play in our neighborhood’s prosperity and well-being,” said Valerie Washburn, chair of the new committee. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had an especially massive impact on our small business community and we want to be there to address their concerns.”

The Mid City West Community Council consists of 35 volunteer board members who are elected to advise city departments on matters of importance to the community. For information, visit midcitywest.org.