The Locally Connected Community Hub began as a neighbourhood-centric business and social community group known as Eastbridge Business Connections (EBC). This grassroots initiative began in January 2017 from an ad-hock post by Jason Kipfer on the Eastbridge Neighbourhood Association Facebook Group Page.  as a way to gauge interest in connecting with local neighbours at a nearby pub. More than two dozen people expressed an interest to participate and 18 people braved the elements and came out to put faces to names while getting to know those who resided in their neighbourhood.

As EBC expanded and garnered more interest from within and around Eastbridge, it was important that monthly Meetups maintained an informal and relaxed atmosphere with an understanding that people would naturally talk about the companies they work for and the products and services they represent and sell. It was (and continues today) that all members of the community feel welcome to participate on the basis that people are more likely to buy from who they know and those they trust. As a result, EBC promotes relationship building first in the hopes that the business will soon follow. 

The notion of holding monthly Meetups at varying business establishments not only provides a fresh venue for regular attendees, but also encourages residents to venture into these establishments...many of whom, are doing so for the first time. It is equally important to support independent shop owners and operators as these monthly Meetups bring positive direct and indirect economic impacts to these merchants and the community at large.

While not a mandatory requirement of participating in monthly Meetups, the 2022 year-end survey results indicated that business referrals were being shared and business transactions had taken place as a direct result from initial connections made from these monthly Meetups. Furthermore, the 78 year-end survey respondents collectively made 302 visits to the 21 Annual Meetup Meetup Door Prize Sponsors of Eastbridge Business Connections.