Economic Development Task Force Minutes 04/22/2014 DRAFT SPECIAL MEETING

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

MEETING MINUTES – APRIL 22, 2014       DRAFT                                                   Page 1 of 2

The EDTF meeting began at 5:05 pm in the Main Meeting Room. In attendance were members:

Nancy Haase, Deputy First Selectman, Lisa Heavner, Selectman, Debra Bernard, Carolyn Bligh, Diane Nash, Jeff Dornenburg, Holly Beum, Charmaine Seavy, Ron Jodice, Eric Strayer, Bill Ethier, Chris Meile, Bob Kulakowski, Derek Peterson, and Lou George as well as SMSP Liaison Rich Correia and staff members Hiram Peck and Sarah Nielsen.

CORE IDEA:

Nancy Haase opened the meeting: Minutes from 4.1.14 meeting were approved. A brief presentation regarding the core idea concept was opened with a PowerPoint slide presentation. The questions discussed posed as part of phase 1 of the Marketing Plan were: What are we selling?, To whom are we selling?, and Against whom are we selling? Discussion on these questions ensued.

Items listed included: Nature, Nurture, Quality of life, History, Restaurants, Shopping, Public views, Athletics, Entertainment, Arts. Simsbury was described by some as the intersection of technology and nature.

Questions/Issues To Be Addressed:

Other items discussed included the fact that employers sell the town based on the fact that it is a great place for biking, technology growth and a wholesome quality of life and that Simsbury is family-centric .

Several members commented on the fact that the downtown has a great plan based on the charrette work, but that we now need to proceed based on those plans and to spread that type of planning top the rest of Town. Other commented on the quilt shop, the airport, bike trail and the fact that perhaps we are the wedding capital of CT.

Lou George commented that the selling needs to be done to the employers and not to the employees. It was also generally agreed that we need to prioritize what we are selling so as to be more focused on that task.

All agreed that the main product being sold is Simsbury’s quality of life.

Jeff Dornenburg addressed and listed many of these items as several aspects of these questions were discussed. Many of these terms were discussed as the potential basis for the Action Plan which is being created by the EDTF.

Several members mentioned that the local housing stock was not up to par for those looking for new housing in the Farmington Valley. It was noted that the housing stock in Simsbury is aging and a good deal of it needs to be replaced as it was built pre 1995. In addition to the group’s consensus that Quality of Life was Simsbury’s product to sell, housing/mixed use rose to the top of the list of target industries discussed which included advanced manufacturing/technology, tourism/recreation/culture and specialty retail/services. Nancy Haase noted that the topic of housing would be discussed in more detail at the May 6 meeting.

Page 2 of 2

ACTION PLAN DISCUSSION:

It was stated that an actual business retention and expansion plan needs to be created and used. It was also agreed that the target area for our economic development efforts should not be limited to this area or even to Connecticut, but instead should have no geographic boundaries and that the distinguishing features of such a program should include a cultural and recreational component.

Hiram Peck mentioned that key components of any of these plans should include the concepts of sustainability and resiliency. These are key to long term prosperity and will benefit all aspects of community life. New residential products are needed. Some are being created at this time.

Other ideas mentioned were that we should focus on active people who would come to “escape to Simsbury” so that they could connect/disconnect in a rural setting. But that we should still project the fact that Simsbury is open for business.

NEXT STEPS:

Nancy Haase stated that the next step is for members to consider what aspect of the Action Plan they would like to work on as the EDTF breaks into smaller groups. In addition the creation of the business retention and expansion plan creation will also need to be worked on as part of this effort.

NEXT MEETING:

Nancy Haase then stated that the CT Commissioner of Housing, Evonne Klein and David Fink from the Partnership for Strong Communities will come to the May 6 EDTF meeting to present information regarding the importance of housing in local economic development efforts.

The next meeting after May 6 would be held on May 20, 2014.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:57 pm.