Wilton’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) is rolling out three new initiatives designed to strengthen and support local businesses — with benefits for residents as well. The EDC has launched a how-to guide for marketing a business in Wilton, an Instagram business directory and job board — all available online and free for residents and businesses to use.
All three initiatives, which were discussed at the EDC’s meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17, are an outgrowth of the business satisfaction survey the EDC completed last year.
- Envisioned as a companion to the EDC’s Guide to Opening and Growing a Business in Wilton (which was published in 2018), the new Wilton CT Guide to Marketing Your Business identifies local resources, promotional opportunities and other marketing tools to help business owners build their businesses and community connections. (Both documents are posted on the EDC’s webpage.) Commissioners noted the guide invites users to make additional recommendations to the EDC for future updates to the guide.
- The EDC has also launched a business directory on its Instagram account, providing residents and visitors with an easy way to discover local shops, restaurants, and other merchants. Users can browse the highlights reel in a variety of categories including Food & Drink, Shopping, Healthcare, Fitness, Home & Garden, and more.
- With survey feedback that showed recruiting employees is a common challenge for Wilton businesses, the EDC has also just launched a job board via Instagram. As of the time this story was published, at least three businesses had already posted job openings, including The Painted Cookie, Simply Delicious Catering, and Wild Blueberry in Georgetown.
EDC Chair Joe Favarolo says the three rollouts demonstrate the EDC’s responsiveness to the needs expressed by the Wilton business community, including more visibility, help with marketing, and finding new hires.
Events Focus
Commissioners are also focused on another key survey finding — that business owners are interested in seeing more events, whether for networking, training, or increasing foot traffic. The EDC has devoted significant meeting time lately to exploring ways the EDC could play a greater role in promoting or hosting events.
A “Shark Tank”-style competition for entrepreneurs, business author talks at the Wilton Library, a restaurant week, and a wellness week were just some of the ideas that have been floated.
No decisions were made, but the commissioners agreed to continue refining the ideas at the next EDC meeting, narrowing the list and ultimately selecting one or two initiatives to pursue in the coming months.
Signage
At its prior meeting (Aug. 20), Favarolo updated the EDC on an effort to improve the town’s signage — specifically the “gateway” and way-finding signs into Wilton Center from major roads, most notably Danbury Rd., as a means of supporting businesses in the Town center.
Favarolo has met with First Selectman Toni Boucher and Wilton Police Department Lt. David Hartman, who serves as the town’s Local Traffic Authority liaison, to discuss how to move forward.
At Hartman’s suggestion, the EDC has begun compiling “the business case” that demonstrates the data-driven reasons why the state — specifically, the CT-DOT, which oversees signage on state-owned roads like Route 7 — should consider allowing new signage in Wilton.
With what he characterized as “overwhelming evidence” in the business case that’s been drafted, Favarolo told commissioners he has requested to attend the next Board of Selectmen meeting to seek approval for submitting it to Hartman for next steps.
The EDC’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 22.