Town Of Willington
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Meeting Minutes of
September 23, 2013
Attendees: Kim Kowalyshyn, Chairman Tom Buccino
Tom Treiber, Secretary Ethan Griswold
Opened Meeting at 6:10 PM
Approval of Minutes:
Kim moved to approve the meeting minutes from June 24, 2013 after a minor correction. Tom B. seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
- Kim reported that PZC approved Love’s Travel Center application with contingencies to the Special Permit on 9/17/13. PZC also approved Dunkin Donuts application in a prior meeting. The Hill Top Restaurant should be open soon.
- EDC Finances – Kim reported that we have $805 on hand after a $95 expense for business cards that she handed out to Commission members.
- Business Networking Meeting – The next Business Networking Meeting is scheduled for November 2013. We are exploring several dates – 11/6/13, 11/13/13, 11/20/13. Kim will contact Dianne Bouchard to see if First Niagara is interested in sponsoring the event and would be willing to provide a speaker from their commercial lending area to talk about what they are looking for in a business plan. Ethan will contact the UCONN School of Business (Small Business Incubator Program) to see if they will provide a speaker on how to prepare a business plan. Ethan offered to contact Beni about holding the event at the Hill Top Restaurant. It was agreed that Ethan would arrange a meeting with Beni to discuss the subject. If this works out, EDC or a sponsor will provide appetizers and
attendees will purchase their own beverages. Ethan indicated that this would be a way for businesses to see the new restaurant as well as meet other business owners and get some helpful training. Advertisement for the event will include emails, e-blasts, flyers, personal contact, and promotion on our website and in print media (e.g., The Willington Word, Journal Inquirer Calendar and Willimantic Chronicle Calendar).
Kim would like to see businesses host subsequent networking meetings. She felt that this could act as a catalyst to getting businesses to form a business association. Tom B. offered to host the Spring EDC Networking at The Mill Works.
- Marketing & Promotion – We discussed further enhancements to our website to promote EDC and the services/support EDC offers. For example, the following enhancements were mentioned: providing links to valuable business development information and services, promoting events including EDC Business Network Meetings, etc. Kim also indicated that the EDC promotes itself with projects like the Business Directory and our new project which involves mapping, simplifying and streamlining, where possible, the process by which a new business applies for and obtains the permits to operate their business. Kim indicated that she would attempt to create an email directory for Willington Businesses so that we could notify businesses of upcoming events like EDC Networking Meetings without the
cost of mailings.
- Process Mapping – Kim handed out the Welcome Packets handed to a new business applying for a permit for members to review.
New Business:
- New Business Activity and contacts – At Tom B’s suggestion, it was agreed that he will invite Diane Nadeau, President and CEO of the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce to our November 25, 2013 meeting. It was also agreed that Tom T. will ask Cynthia van Zelm, Executive Director of Mansfield Downtown Partnership to attend our December 16, 2013 meeting.
- Correspondence – Kim received an email from a Hartford based business looking for information on acreage (18-20) near I-84. They will be invited to attend an upcoming EDC meeting.
Public Comment:
Ongoing Activities:
- Commission Vacancies - We have two alternate seats open. Dianne Bouchard from First Niagara Bank was interested in one of the vacancies, but was not eligible as she is neither a resident nor a business owner.
Meeting adjourned at 7:26 PM. Next meeting to be held on Monday October 28, 2013 at
6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Treiber
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