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According to Barnhart, the Economic Development Plan will serve as a blueprint to establish goals and priorities in the town’s economic development programs, to support the local business community, to encourage entrepreneurship and new business formation, and to attract businesses to Fairfield.
He added that the town's focus remains on how it can grow the business sector and the commercial Grand List, as well as create employment opportunities for residents in a responsible way that is sensitive to the community's character.
“I think it’s vitally important that we periodically re-examine the work that we are doing in view of our competitors and industry-wide best practices," said First Selectman Michael C. Tetreau. "Fairfield continues to be a great place in which to live, work and have a business, but we are constantly searching for areas in which we can improve. I commend the commission on their taking this initiative and look forward to working with them on this undertaking.”
Peter Penczer, chairman of the Fairfield Economic Development Commission said that it's important for towns to have such a plan. “It’s critical that we have such a plan to guide our work, especially now in light of GE’s decision to relocate its corporate headquarters,” he added.
Barnhart noted that the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) had been selected to assist the commission in this undertaking. The total cost of the study is $28,000, which is being partially underwritten by a grant from the United Illuminating Company and Southern Connecticut Gas. The project is expected to be completed by this fall.
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