Economic Development Commission Already Responding To Business Survey

The Newtown Economic Development Commission and Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker are responding quickly to perceptions by respondents in a townwide survey, that local agencies are not exactly business-friendly.

The EDC wrapped up 2010 by unveiling a 32-page report detailing results of a survey circulated among the 1,750 known businesses in town. According to a release, the online survey drew 150 responses from a cross-section of businesses.

The major issues cited most were Newtown’s sign regulations and their enforcement, plus the lack of a clear road map for dealing with town officials on business issues. One respondent said, “I was not aware of the signage regulations and the town caused me unexpected and excessive strain to comply. …I also do not agree with a single sign rule.”

Ms Stocker told The Newtown Bee that when businesses open in, or relocate to, Newtown, they have a responsibility to understand what the local sign regulations and permitting process involves. But that does not discount the image it presents when a new business opening is followed by a visit from a zoning officer telling the owner they have to remove or downscale their signage.

“When a zoning officer shows up informing them about the business lacking the necessary sign permits, it’s not as welcoming as it could be,” Ms Stocker said.

She added, however, that Newtown officials, and those from its separately zoned Borough, work hard to balance their environmental stewardship with the need for community growth.

“It’s important for the community to balance those issues,” Ms Stocker said. “And it’s a complicated process.”

EDC Chairman Wes Thompson said the survey is an important cornerstone for future EDC activity.

“Our plan is to target the primary wants and needs of business while encouraging the town’s great services and support organizations,” Mr Thompson said.

The commission expects to present a series of recommendations related to the survey’s findings before the Board of Selectmen and Legislative Council in January. Implementation of the dozen or so recommendations and conclusions dovetails nicely with a few EDC and Office of Economic and Community Development projects already under way.

 The survey report, prepared by the WriteDesign Company of Newtown, contains an executive summary, a full analysis of the 20 questions asked, and a dozen or more major conclusions and recommendations. The report was unanimously accepted and endorsed by Economic Development Commission on December 14.

Among the consultant’s conclusions:

*Newtown’s top strength is its location — for business owners, for attracting workers from the southeast and central parts of the state, and for customers from surrounding towns and beyond.

*Although more than twice as many respondents said No than Yes when asked if more public transportation or more affordable or low-cost housing in Newtown would help their businesses, significant numbers did support both.

*There are a wealth of opportunities to attract and retain a wide range of businesses, and 90 percent of respondents support neighborhood business centers such as the Sandy Hook and Borough design districts.

*A threat to business growth includes “the perception that the town does not go out of its way to promote or support local business.”

Ms Stocker said that the EDC is already in the process of forming alliances with agencies from the local Chamber of Commerce to the regional SCORE program to help local businesses better understand the process, as well as particular demands, of local regulations.

“There are 11 actions the EDC will promote in the coming weeks,” she said, “to help better communicate to businesses what they need to know.”

WriteDesign’s recommendations, as designed by managing partner Scott Brier, also included:

*Determine changes that will help businesses attract customers while preserving the town’s character.

*Develop a document that makes the requirements understandable for proactive communication to new and existing businesses.

*Determine a process that helps prevent land use issues involving new or expanding businesses from escalating into conflicts.

*Establish a “buddy system” through which a Chamber of Commerce member or supportive business in town is asked to partner with a new or expanding business to help it accomplish its goals.

*Create a “meet the neighbors” program with townwide events that enable businesses to showcase their products and services to local residents.

*Launch a “Marketing Newtown” effort, including use of social media. A number of respondents felt Newtown did not do a good enough job of promoting itself as a destination for special events or specialty, craft, and antique stores.

The sample size assured a confidence level of 95 percent, Mr Brier said. In addition, more than a half-dozen in-depth personal interviews were held with other businesses to ensure diversity in responses.

Ms Stocker said that while the low number of respondents may have left the ideas of certain segments of the business community underrepresented or unrepresented in the survey, she still feels the comments and points of constructive criticism are consistent with what she has been hearing about in the course of her daily duties.

Besides working to interact with businesses in an outreach capacity, she is also charged with researching and applying for, as well as administering and managing, grants. Ms Stocker said the EDC has funding in its budget to bring on an intern to assist in administering commission business, but that position is currently vacant.

View the full survey at www.newtown.org/documents/BusinessSurveyFINALREPORT12-29-l0.pdf.