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T-Mobile officially celebrated the opening of its Manchester store with a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Friday, Nov. 3.

Located at 2161 Hillsboro Blvd in the Whispering Pines shopping center, Regional Senior Manager Susan Deardorff said the phone service provider is happy to finally celebrate its grand opening in Manchester.

“We have been waiting quite a while for the network to become strong enough for us to come into the community,” she said. “We did a lot of network enhancements to where we have an incredible network now to where we were able to go ahead and find this fabulous location.”

Deardorff said having a brick-and-mortar store in Manchester will also allow T-Mobile to not only build its brand in the community, but also become involved in supporting the community itself.

Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Director Katy Riddle said the Chamber is happy to welcome T-Mobile to the city.

“Anytime that we can get a new business in town it is obviously exciting, but then you have one who wants to not only be a part of your community but contribute to your community and be a true partner it is so exciting,” Riddle said.

District Manager Marcos Kinnison said T-Mobile has an initiative for small and rural markets.

“What makes us different is we do a lot of partnerships with community,” he said. “…We do a lot of partnerships with the Chamber, with local businesses, food trucks, restaurants, we have a first responders program, a teachers program as well.”

Kinnison said T-Mobile also awards a grant of $50,000 to communities with a need. Cities that have been awarded the grant in the past include Princeton, Kentucky, which used the funding to remodel its library, while Lawrenceburg, Tennessee was able to remodel its senior center.

“If you guys feel like there is a community need out there, please partner with me and we will get you the application to fill out and that way we can help the community in that way,” Kinnison said.