HVCEO - Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials

WESTERN CONNECTICUT

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ALLIANCE


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INTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION

A partnership of public and private sector citizens was formed in 2010 to search for ways to enhance economic development initiatives throughout the Greater Danbury-New Milford area. This regional group, the Western Connecticut Economic Development Alliance, is focused on strengthening public and private sector efforts to expand the economy of Western Connecticut.

A regional approach will also enable our area to meet new requirements by the Connecticut General Assembly that give priority for state infrastructure grants to economic development activities derived from regional, no longer just municipal, economic development plans.

That goal aside, it is time for the many economic development groups in the area to pause and jointly update their marketing and other data bases. Then, integrate the new shared resources into their on-going work.

Meetings of this group are hosted by Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce President Stephen Bull, and are led by WCEDA Chair Harold Kurfehs of Brookfield.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership as of February 2013 is as follows:

PRIVATE SECTOR:
1. Harold Kurfehs, Coldwell Banker and Brookfield Ec. Devel. Comm., Chair of the WCEDA, CEDS Steering Committee
2. Stephen Bull, Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Board, CEDS Steering Committee
3. Jane Didona, Didona Associates Landscape Architects, Chair of the WCSU Studies Committee
4. Sally Herlihy, Western CT Health Network, CEDS Steering Committee
5. Nicholas Gazetos, Savings Bank of Danbury

6. Maura Ruby, Danbury Fair Mall, The Macerich Company
7. Jeff Ryer, Ryer Associates Commercial Real Estate, Chair of the Fund Raising Committee
8. Lisa Scails, Cultural Alliance of Western CT, CEDS Steering Committee
9. Roy Steiner, Berkshire Corporate Park
10. William Shannon, Bethel Local 107 Labor Union

PUBLIC SECTOR:
1. Michael Boyle, Bethel Economic Development Commission and Base Technologies, Chair of the CEDS Steering Committee
2. Gerald Casiello, Redding Zoning Commission and SCORE Advisor
3. David Hannon, Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials staff, CEDS Steering Committee
4. Jonathan Chew, Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials staff, CEDS Steering Committee
5. Paul Steinmetz, Western CT State University

6. Luigi Fulinello, New Milford Economic Development Supervisor, CEDS Steering Committee
7. Bruce Tuomala, Danbury Economic Development Director and Workforce Board, CEDS Steering Committee
8. Elizabeth Stocker, Newtown Economic and Community Development Office, CEDS Steering Committee
9. Joy Strand, Ridgefield Economic Development Commission, Chair of the Publicity Committee

MEETING MINUTES

Meeting minutes are prepared by Newtown Director of Economic and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker. To review activities thus far:

March 24, 2010; May 5, 2010; June 16, 2010; October 13, 2010; December 1, 2010

January 19, 2011; March 16, 2011, April 27, 2011; May 18, 2011; June 15, 2011; July 20, 2011 ; August 17, 2011; October 19, 2011; November 16, 2011

January 18, 2012 ; February 15, 2012; April 25, 2012; June 19, 2012; September 12, 2012; October 17, 2012; November 19, 2012; March 20, 2013

PREPARING THE ECONOMIC PLAN

The WCEDA will direct the production of a regional "Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy" Plan (CEDS Plan). This nationally recognized format will meet all state requirements mandated for regional economic development planning and provide a fresh marketing perspective for each municipality. Members of the CEDS Steering Committee are noted above.

In a 11/22/2011 letter to the US Economic Development Administration CT DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith stated that she "strongly endorses the Housatonic Valley application to EDA...." And that "DECD has a long and successful history of working with the HVCEO region on major infrastructure projects. Currently we have substantial projects underway in Danbury, New Milford, Newtown and Redding."

A technically sophisticated process, for details see the "CEDS Request for Proposals dated February 10, 2012." The CEDS consultant is to be competitively selected.

:
Greater Danbury's strategic placement.

FUNDING THE ECONOMIC PLAN

The needed regional economic plan and marketing update will be funded cooperatively by federal, municipal and business sources. See the CEDS Marketing Sponsorship Flyer prepared by Fund Raising Committee Chair Jeff Ryer.

Tax deductible contributions may be made to the Business & Industry Foundation of Western Connecticut, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

The federal government is supporting this effort thru a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Then the ten municipalities in the area are diverting part of their HVCEO membership dues towards the CEDS process. And contributions are being made by leading businesses at the following levels: