Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998
Date: Fri 30-Oct-1998
Publication: Bee
Author: KAAREN
Quick Words:
business-EDC-Scudder-award
Full Text:
EDC Salutes Newtown Business
(with photos)
The Newtown Economic Development Commission held a Salute to Business
reception attended by more than 60 persons at the Mary Hawley Inn on October
22.
"We're here today to salute many businesses in our town," First Selectman Herb
Rosenthal said. "We hope they will stay and prosper. Local business and
industry eases the burden on residents for community services supported by
local property taxes.
The award ceremony was conducted by EDC Chairman Win Ballard and Community
Development Director Elizabeth Stocker. Selectmen Joe Bojanowski and Bill
Brimmer, Legislative Council Chairman Pierre Rochman, and many of the
nine-member EDC attended along with Dolores Capers and Andrea Scott of the
Danbury Office of the State Department of Economic and Community Development;
Peg Daley, director of the Housatonic Valley Economic Development Partnership;
and local business and civic leaders.
Two businesses which came to town recently, Sonic and Materials and Neumade
Products Corp, were singled out for recognition. Certificates of appreciation
also were presented to David Goldblum, the Hurley Group, for the Simm Lane
Business Park; Sandra Wright for The Glen Mill Corporation which developed the
former Fabric Fire Hose building; Vito Kala, The Villa restaurant; Tom Belli,
Mary Hawley Inn; and Joseph Kasper Jr for the redevelopment of the Newtown
Shopping Center. Pat Linnell, president of the Newtown Board of Realtors, and
Anne Ragusa, president of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, received
certificates of appreciation for their organizations' contributions toward the
growth and development of the local economy.
The Bee Publishing Company received the EDC's community service award for "121
years of continuous and distinguished service to the community." The award was
accepted by R. Scudder Smith on behalf of the company and its employees.
Though six of the nine EDC members are new to the commission, the agency is
working hard to help Newtown's existing companies to grow and expand within
the community, and to help new businesses feel welcome, Mr Ballard said.
The commission soon will have a new video available for businesses that are
considering Newtown as a location. The commission plans to review its
strategic plan and marketing over the next few months and will be working on
recommendations for consideration by the community for its growth policies and
incentives. The EDC and the Community Development Office have produced a new
publication for prospective businesses which discusses Newtown's location,
labor force, educational facilities, utilities and telecommunications,
demographics, and incentive programs available on the state and regional
levels.