Wilton’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) dedicated its February and March meetings to brainstorming and reaching consensus on what its priorities and focus should be for 2024.
Having wrapped up its year-long project on commercial signage and with a fresh infusion of two new commissioners — Tom Shimko, who joined in January, and Hillary Springel, who attended her first meeting on March 13 — the Commission is ready to tackle a new assignment. (So far, First Selectman Toni Boucher has not assigned the EDC a specific directive.)
At the EDC’s Feb. 14 meeting, commissioners shared their thoughts on what new efforts the EDC should undertake, such as expanding the popular Business Spotlight program, hosting small business forums, bolstering its social media activity, and a long list of other possible initiatives.
Chair Joe Favarolo consolidated all of the suggestions into five potential focus areas:
- Understanding business needs in Wilton
- Promoting and collaborating with existing businesses
- Supporting residents who work from home
- Attracting new businesses
- Ascertaining Wilton’s brand identity and value proposition, i.e. “Why Wilton”
Commissioners view the EDC’s primary role as collaborating with existing businesses in Wilton to help them grow. Over the course of their discussions, commissioners easily reached a consensus that an initiative to better understand the needs and challenges facing Wilton’s businesses should be their top priority.
“We want to know how well we are meeting the needs of local companies,” Favarolo said.
The Commission is immediately planning to survey local businesses to understand their overall satisfaction and feedback on the business environment, Town services, regulations and other concerns. Commissioners noted that such a survey could be conducted on an annual basis to measure changes over time.
Commissioners had a lengthy discussion about potential questions to include in the survey, based on a preliminary outline of ideas for the questionnaire Shimko submitted before the meeting. A draft questionnaire is expected at the next meeting.
Favarolo said he hoped to move more quickly on the survey than the Commission did on its recent signage surveys, as well as achieve a higher response rate. He also suggested commissioners might supplement the online survey with some in-person meetings with select businesses.
In addition to the business survey, the commissioners agreed that they would focus on updating “Why Wilton” promotional materials, and specifically, a one-page set of key facts and statistics highlighting Wilton’s most desirable features.
“This will help communicate why Wilton is an attractive place for businesses and residents,” Favarolo said.
The EDC’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10.