Wilton’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) met on Wednesday, June 12 with several matters on the agenda.

Final Plans for Business Satisfaction Survey

EDC Chair Joe Favarolo began the meeting with an update on his discussions with the Board of Selectmen (BOS) about the EDC’s plans for conducting a survey among Wilton business owners. He shared some “minor tweaks” to the draft questionnaire among other suggestions made by the selectmen.

With details finalized and a green light from the BOS, the EDC is now planning to get the survey programmed and launched as soon as possible. Commissioners hope to complete the survey before summer vacation season impacts survey participation.

“The idea is to get as good a response rate as possible,” Favarolo said. “The more responses we get, the better the analysis.”

Favarolo also noted the analytical challenge ahead — to interpret the results and present them in meaningful ways. He expects the survey will impact the EDC’s future activities and priorities.

“This is going to result in a lot of what we do,” he said. “I think this will give us our marching orders, going into 2025… Hopefully we’ll have a lot of takeaways.”

The survey will be distributed via the Town’s email list and to Chamber of Commerce members. Commissioners will also reach out to some businesses directly.

Business Spotlight Program

John DiCenzo updated his fellow commissioners on the Business Spotlight program — a unique collaboration between Wilton High School and the Wilton Chamber of Commerce, in which WHS students produce promotional videos for local merchants.

DiCenzo noted the program will be “shutting down for a brief hiatus” while school closes for the summer, but will start back up again in the fall. He noted the volume of Spotlight videos has markedly increased since the program began.

Seeking Grants

As part of the EDC’s efforts to support local businesses, commissioner Peter Squitieri updated the commission on his outreach to Congressman Jim Himes‘ office regarding potential ways to benefit from Congressional spending and grant opportunities.

Squitieri said a staffer in the congressman’s office was willing to meet with the EDC — potentially at the EDC’s July 10 meeting or at a special meeting on another date — to discuss how the EDC might access grants for projects that could help boost local businesses or economic development efforts in Wilton.

All EDC meeting dates and agendas will be posted on the Town website.