Key Points:
- As of Oct. 21, at least 18 Wilton businesses have already confirmed their participation in Wilton Wellness Week, with a limited window for others to join.
- Encouraged by anecdotal feedback on Wilton Restaurant Weeks, the EDC is seeking more information to assess its impact.
- The EDC welcomed a new member, Edinam Cudjoe and unanimously elected a new vice chair, Mike Hanauer, following the August departure of Tom Shimko from the commission.
Why It Matters: The initiatives aim to connect residents with Wilton businesses and address merchants’ visibility challenges, while the EDC works to assess the results of its promotions.
At least 18 local businesses have signed on for Wilton Wellness Week, a Nov. 8–14 promotion featuring health, fitness and self-care offerings, as the Economic Development Commission (EDC) builds on encouraging initial feedback from its first Wilton Restaurant Weeks.
At its Oct. 21 meeting, the commission reviewed preparations for Wellness Week and plans to collect more information about the restaurant promotion’s results. Commissioners also discussed regional collaboration, signage improvements and other initiatives to support Wilton businesses.
Coming Up: Wellness Week
Plans for Wilton Wellness Week are rapidly coming together, according to EDC member Phil Fitzgerald, who is leading the initiative.
The event will feature local businesses offering promotions and experiences centered on wellness, broadly defined to include health, self-care and fitness.
Fitzgerald reported at least 18 businesses had confirmed their participation, and the number could still increase. He noted there is still time for more participants to contact the commission, though the window was closing soon.
Commissioners believe it’s the first event of its kind in Wilton. EDC Chair Joe Favarolo viewed the number of confirmed participants favorably. “That’s substantial,” he said.
Fitzgerald highlighted the Riverbrook Regional YMCA as a notable participant. He also said participants are designing a wide variety of offers to entice consumers, such as free trials, discounted pricing, and other special offers during the event.
The EDC’s social media blitz to promote the participants will begin before the Nov. 8 kickoff to allow time for consumers to plan or book appointments.
Wellness Week is coming on the heels of Wilton Restaurant Week, another first-of-its-kind event for the EDC. The two-week restaurant promotion wrapped up on Oct. 4.
Favarolo said he had received feedback from a handful of participating restaurants that was “very positive” but acknowledged it was anecdotal. The EDC plans to email all participating restaurants for more feedback, including any hard numbers on increased patronage and interest in future participation.
Favarolo felt confident the event had achieved the goal of increasing visibility for Wilton restaurants, citing “all time high” views of related EDC content on social media related.
More Collaboration
Following last month’s meeting with AdvanceCT, the EDC continues its effort to engage with economic development groups in peer communities and at the state level.
Commissioner Marty Avallone reported he had attended a Oct. 15 meeting hosted by Ridgefield‘s Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC) to discuss development along Route 7. A WestCOG representative also attended. (Representatives from Redding and Danbury were also invited but were unable to attend.)
Avallone noted that Ridgefield’s ECDC is also all-volunteer, but does receive some town funding. It also has its own strategic plan, and Avallone suggested Wilton’s EDC could benefit from a similar framework to clarify its priorities.
“What’s going to be our focus over the next two, three years is probably a worthwhile exercise for us,” he said.
Favarolo agreed.
“Look at every corporat[ion] — you have strategic plans. It makes sense,” he said, though he noted “ad hoc” flexibility was also beneficial. Commissioners agreed to further consider a strategic plan.
At the Oct. 15 meeting, Avallone also explored the concept of cross-promoting events. For example, Ridgefield ECDC could promote Wilton Wellness Week, while Wilton EDC could promote Ridgefield’s new arts center.
“They [Ridgefield] are in favor, it seems, of cross-promotion of events,” he said, though he noted the two towns could have some conflicting interests.
Avallone said he planned to follow up with Ridgefield ECDC Chair Bob Knight to further discuss the concept. He also plans to attend another meeting hosted by Redding in November.
Changes on the Commission
The commission officially welcomed a new member, Edinam Cudjoe, who informally attended the EDC’s Sept. 23 meeting but was formally appointed by the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 5.
The open seat was created by the departure of former EDC Vice Chair Tom Shimko, who resigned in August. Mike Hanauer, who joined the EDC in March, was nominated and unanimously elected vice chair by his fellow commissioners.
“I’m excited,” Hanauer said after the vote. “Honestly, we’ve done a lot in the last year, so I’m super excited.”
More EDC News:
- “Shark Tank”-inspired event: The EDC continues to explore the concept of a “Shark Tank”-inspired event to showcase Wilton entrepreneurs. Commissioner Andy Warren updated the EDC about his latest discussions with potential participants and how other nearby towns such as Ridgefield and Westport have approached similar events with success. Warren posed the idea of involving Wilton High School students and suggested planning the event next spring.
- Career Panel for Parents and Teens: The EDC is co-sponsoring an event at the Wilton Library to promote alternative career paths beyond the four-year-college degree. Redefining Success: The Post-High School Journey, scheduled for Nov. 17, will be “a candid panel discussion with local professionals, business owners and skilled trades leaders who chose a different route and built happy, deeply rewarding, successful careers.” Wilton Public Schools Superintendent Kevin Smith will moderated the discussion.
- “Wilton: Where You Belong” promotional brochure: The EDC is fine-tuning photo selections and other finishing touches for its updated 40 Things We Love About Wilton digital brochure, which is being rebranded as Wilton: Where You Belong. Favarolo hopes to present the new marketing tool to the Board of Selectmen as soon as there is room on the selectmen’s agenda.
- Commercial signage regulations update: Avallone informed the EDC that the Planning and Zoning Commission has retained a consultant to update the Town’s zoning regulations, including commercial signage regulations. The EDC has long advocated for changes to signage regulations based on its survey of local business owners — particularly those who do not have prominent, street-facing locations. Commissioners hope to meet with the consultant to share their findings and recommendations.
- Wilton Center directional signage on state roads: Commissioners continued to discuss their goal of obtaining new wayfinding and gateway signs for Wilton Center along state‑owned roads, particularly Danbury Rd. After consulting with Wilton Police and the Department of Public Works, Commissioner Andrew Warren said the EDC could continue to advance the project. Commissioners agreed, however, that some budget guidance from the Board of Selectmen would be useful before proceeding further.
