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Town Of Willington
Economic Development Commission Meeting
Meeting Minutes of
June 30, 2014
*Minutes are not official until approved at the next regular meeting.
Attendees: Kim Kowalyshyn Tom Treiber, Vice Chair/Secretary Jackie Silverstein, Chair Jason Bracich
Tom Buccino
Opened Meeting at 6:08 PM
Approval of Minutes:
On motions by Kim seconded by Jason, the minutes from February 24, 20014, March 24, 2014 and April 1, 2014 and April 28, 2014 were individually approved.
Public Present:
- Mary Huda, Assessor, indicated that a business owner had had expressed interest in leasing 72 River Road. This interest increased when the person learned that the town was participating in C-PACE and that such funds might be available to make improvements to the building.
- Eli Freund, Chronicle Reporter
Old Business:
Economic Development
- Tom T. said that progress continues on Love’s Travel Center (LTC). FedEx will submit a preliminary application for a parking lot expansion to PZC on July 12, 2014. Mycoscience is busy and has yet to submit an application for a planned expansion. Dunkin Donuts – no progress to report.
- Willington Market Study. Kim will contact Hebron to ask for their RFP materials to expedite the RFP process. We would like to have the bid winner speak about the study process and goals at the next Business Networking meeting scheduled for November 2014. Kim agreed to get a draft RFP to members as soon as possible so we can begin the bid process. The goal will be to select a vendor at our September 2014 meeting.
- New Business Activity and Contacts - Tom B. advised that the Friends of the Mill Works are applying for a time sensitive grant of up to $50,000 from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. The Willington Historical Society has been advised of this grant opportunity. Tom B. said that he also met with First Selectman, Christina Mailhos on the grant.
2014 Action Items
- Business Profiles – next up Baywood Kennels.
- Marketing & Promotion – Tabled. Tom B. had nothing to report.
- Process Mapping – Ongoing. This project has been pushed back due to EDC’s participation in the upcoming Willington Market Study. Members will review/edit a Land Use Handbook developed by the Town of Coventry for possible use in Willington for November EDC Meeting. At Kim’s suggestion, Tom T. will ask Land Use (Susan Yorgensen and Peggy Dupilka to participate in the editing and modification of the handbook.
- Status of EDC Phone Coverage – Tabled, as Ethan was not able to attend the meeting.
- Willington Word advertising – Kim will get due date for Fall edition. She said that brevity is key as space is limited.
- Windham Chamber of Commerce – Payment was processed and we have received our membership plaque.
Budget & Housekeeping
- EDC Finances – We have $900 on hand.
- Email –Kim is still working with the town to resolve an email problem.
- Commission vacancies – 1 alternate seat is open.
New Business:
- Communicating with Willington Businesses – Jackie, Kim and Jason will work on creating an email group that contains email addresses for Willington businesses. This will make notifications of upcoming events and training more efficient.
- Correspondence – None
- C-PACE - Kim reported that C-PACE program is good to go and contracts should be signed shortly.
- Fall Business Networking meeting – Topic will be Planning Willington’s Economic Future. We would like to have the vendor selected for the market study to speak about the study process and goals at the next Business Networking meeting tentatively scheduled for November 12, 2014. Tom B. agreed to hold the event at the Mill Works provided the town’s liability insurance would cover the event. Tom T. agreed to find out if the town’s liability insurance extends to EDC events held offsite and that the coverage would hold the hosting business owner harmless if an attendee suffered personal injury. Jason agreed to secure Library as a backup site for the meeting.
- QuickBooks Training for Town Businesses – Tom B. worked with the Windham Chamber to identify a source of free training. He also has agreed to coordinate the training with the trainer and those who wish to attend. Late July was targeted for the training.
- Welcome Baskets – Jackie is still working on this initiative.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM. Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday September 22, 2014 at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Tom Treiber
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