Town Of Willington
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Meeting Minutes of
January 27, 2014
*Minutes are not official until approved at the next regular meeting.
Attendees: Kim Kowalyshyn Jackie Silverstein, Co-Chair
Tom Treiber, Co-Chair/Secretary Tom Buccino
Opened Meeting at 6:10 PM at the Mill Works, 156 River Road, Willington, CT
Approval of Minutes:
Jackie moved to approve the meeting minutes from December 18, 2013. Tom T. seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Old Business:
Guests – Diane Nadeau, President of the Windham Chamber of Commerce provided an overview of Chamber activities and the benefits of membership to Willington businesses and the town. She stressed that some benefits were available to non-members as well as members. In this regard, Diane mentioned advertisement for town events (Willington Flea Market, Willington Days, etc). She reviewed the various Chamber publications that advertise businesses and services offered in the greater Windham Region that included the Directory of Businesses and Services, the Community Link Newsletter, the College Student’s Survival Guide, and the Guide to
Regional Fun, Festivals and Flair.
She indicated that the Chamber’s Business Service Center is available to help members with business plans and marketing plans as well as finding sources of funding and grants. Diane said that the Chamber would also arrange specialized, tailor-made training programs for businesses and Economic Development Commissions at a nominal cost. She said that annual individual Chamber memberships were $276 per year and that a membership for a town of our size would be about $300 per year. Diane also discussed information that she had handed out about the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) and its C-PACE clean energy opportunity for commercial buildings. She said that it was a great program for businesses in older, less energy efficient, buildings. For businesses to
participate, the town would have to agree to act as a program intermediary.
Cynthia van Zelm, Executive Director of Mansfield Downtown Partnership, will attend the February 24, 2014 meeting and discuss ways to attract new businesses.
Tom T. will try to arrange for Greg Lewis of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center to attend our March 24, 2014 meeting concerning the SBDC ‘s mission and how they could help Willington businesses.
Economic Development – Tom T. advised that he spoke with Planning-Zoning/Wetlands Agent, Susan Yorgensen. She advised that there is an issue involving Dunkin Donuts. Construction should begin in the spring. Love’s Travel Center (LTC) - no change. Susan also indicated that Mycoscience wants to add on to their building. The addition will apparently require a zone change, and Mycoscience may need our support. She also said that FEDEX wanted to expand.
Projects
- Marketing & Promotion – Ongoing.
Economic Development Study - Kim indicated that the CIP Meeting on December 30, 2013 to discuss funding for the study went well and there was support for allocating the $15,000.
- Process Mapping – Susan Yorgensen has accepted the invitation to attend our April 28, 2014 meeting and provide an overview of the permit process, land use classifications, etc.
- Business Networking Meeting – The next Business Networking Meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2014. We have reserved Hilltop Restaurant’s function room from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM. We are looking into the possibility of having interactive presentations by (1) the Greater Windham Chamber of Commerce on the benefits of chamber membership and (2) the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) on the C-PACE, clean energy opportunity for commercial buildings. We will advertise the meeting via postcards (A Save the Date in February and a follow-up in March requiring an RSVP for a head count), e-blasts and The Willington Word. More research will be required before we attempt to start a Willington Business Association.
Budget & Housekeeping
- EDC 2014 Budget Request was finalized, and Jackie will submit. Members will need to attend the Board of Finance Meeting on March 6, 2014 to support the submission. The budget will include a $300 line item for joining the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce.
- EDC Finances – We have $805 on hand
- Emails – There was a January 9, 2014 email from the first selectman, Christina Mailhos, to Tom T. re a call from Gregory Lewis of the Connecticut Small Business Center. Lewis asked to talk with someone from the town regarding services available for small businesses. It was agreed that Tom T. would try to schedule Lewis for our March 24, 2014 meeting.
- Goals, etc. – Members are sharing responsibilities for attending PZC meetings and/or other town meetings. Members either picked or were assigned two months each for 2014 when they would attend meetings. Kim will contact the Town Clerk, the Assessor and Susan Yorgensen to ensure that EDC is advised by email of any new businesses in town. Tom T. will prepare a write-up on our web page for the Willington Word.
Commission vacancies – 2 alternate seats
New Business:
- Correspondence – None
- New Business Activity and Contacts - None
Public Present:
- Heather Lake, Willimantic Chronicle.
Meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM. Our next meeting will be held on Monday February 24, 2014 at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Treiber
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