11-7-08

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03e8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board of Directors"><B>Board of Directors</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Meetings"><B>Meetings</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CEDS"><B>CEDS</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id66.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Scenario Planning"><B>Scenario Planning </B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Task Team"><B>Task Team</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Regional, State Federal Links Docs"><B>Regional Plans </B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Regional Links NW CT"><B>Links</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ByLaws"><B>By-Laws</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact"><B>Contact</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>CEDS Sponsors:</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id125.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board of Directors"><I><U>Platinum Sponsor</U></I></A></div> <div> <B>Borghesi Building & Engineering</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>Silver Sponsors</U></I></div> <div> <B>Bicron Electronics</B></div> <div> <B>CEDAS</B></div> <div> <I>(CT Econ. 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Assoc.)</I></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>Bronze Sponsors</U></I></div> <div> <B>Parker Productions</B></div> <div> <B>Winvian</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #999980;" BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Bangle" ><B>Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bangle" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    </B><B>|</B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Bangle" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Bangle" ><B> </B><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Northwest Connecticut Economic Developme"><B>home</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12508">1-25-08</A>   |   <A HREF="id103.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3708">3-7-08</A>   |   <A HREF="id105.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="41808">4-18-08</A>   |   <A HREF="id106.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="5208">5-2-08</A>   |   <A HREF="id107.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="9508">9-5-08</A>   |   <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="10308">10-3-08</A>   |   <B>11-7-08</B>   |   <A HREF="id110.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="12508">12-5-08</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 width="100%" colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>11-7-08</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="1" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="727" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#FFFFFF > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1590 WIDTH="719"><div> <B><U>Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation</U></B></div> <div> 333 Kennedy Drive, Torrington, CT 06790</div> <div> <U>860.567.2204 - www.nwctedc.com - info@nwctedc.com</U></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Board of Directors</U></B></div> <div> November 7, 2008 - 8:30 am</div> <div> <I>Kent Town Hall</I></div> <div>   </div> <div> <B><U>Attendance</U></B><B>: </B>Allan Borghesi, Doug Parker, JoAnn Ryan, Lou Helt, David Dean, Dan McGuinness, Bill Burgess, Ruth Epstein, Carolle Jenkins, Pat Mechare, Fran Delaney, Amy Wynn, Alice Bemand, Patrice & Frank Galterio, Dan Bolognani, Berta Andrulis, Ellen Corsell, Roberta Willis and Alice Bemand</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Welcome to Kent</U></B></div> <div> -  Ruth Epstein <I>(First Selectman) </I>welcomed everyone to Kent.  </div> <div> -  Ellen Corsell, President of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, provided a quick overview of the Kent Chamber,  currently there are 150 members.  </div> <div> -  Amy Wynn and Ellen also talked briefly about the Kent Art Association.  There are 13 galleries located in Kent.  </div> <div> -  Tourism and the Kent School are the major drivers of the local economy.  </div> <div> -  There was also discussion about the railroad and train station.  Recently, a passenger train brought 485 passengers from Danbury to visit Kent for the first time in over 30 years.  While the railroad has been used for freight, it hasn't been used for passenger service since 1971.  </div> <div> -  The Kent Chamber hopes to see a continuation of passenger train visits in the future with a longer time period for visiting the town, possibly extended from two to four hours.  The railroad tracks need to be upgraded since the current top speed is only 25 miles per hour.  This has been discussed in previous NWCTEDC meetings as a high regional priority.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Regional Sustainable Agriculture Initiative</U></B> - Bill Burgess, Litchfield Hills Food Systems</div> <div> -  Bill Burgess, President of Litchfield Hills Food Systems, described an Agricultural Viability grant proposal to "cultivate greater community by nurturing and supporting collaborative teaching and learning experiences, which connect and support sustainable agriculture, local food and active, healthy lifestyles."  </div> <div> -  This is a regional initiative working with the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials and the NW CT Council of Governments, which are same planning regions served by NWCTEDC.  Bill was seeking an endorsement and letter of support from NWCTEDC.  </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Motion:</B></I> JoAnn Ryan motioned for NWCTEDC to support the efforts of the Litchfield Hills Food Systems to operate as the lead NW CT regional agency to "cultivate greater community by nurturing and supporting collaborative teaching and learning experiences, which connect and support sustainable agriculture, local food and active, healthy lifestyles."  Lou Helt seconded the motion.  The motion was passed unanimously.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>EPA Revolving Loan Fund Grant - Torrington</U></B></div> <div> -  Doug Parker presented a motion on behalf of the City of Torrington for Rose Ponte, Economic Development Director, who was unable to attend due to her mother's health issues.  Torrington is applying for a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grant for one million dollars from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) toward brownfield remediation and clean-up.  The City of Torrington requested NWCTEDC support as a "Community Partner" for this grant.  </div> <bR> <div> <I><B>Motion:</B></I>  JoAnn Ryan motioned for NWCTEDC to agree to serve as a "Community Partner" with the City of Torrington for the EPA (one million dollar) Revolving Loan Fund - Cleanup Program and to authorize the NWCTEDC President/Executive Director to write a letter of support for the grant application and to coordinate any future activities/involvement with the City of Torrington.  Lou Helt seconded the motion.  The motion was passed unanimously.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Kent Film Festival</U></B> - Patrice & Frank Galterio</div> <div> -  Doug Parker introduced Patrice & Frank Galterio, organizers and founders of the Kent Film Festival.  Patrice and Frank provided a history of the festival which is held at the end of March and described the close relationship that has been established with Kent and the Kent business community.  The festival has grown in 4 years from a small town supported venture into a widely acclaimed event.  The festival blends well with the state's initiative on attracting the film industry.  </div> <div> -  There is also an educational component providing training for students interested in learning about film development and production and providing a venue for independent film producers.  </div> <div> -  State Representative Roberta Willis (64th District) shared her thoughts and offered her support as a member of the "Hollywood East Task Force" - a state level committee to identify methods for attracting film producers to the state.  She also described the state's efforts to develop locally (state-wide) trained film crews as part of work-force development.  </div> <div> -  Amy Wynn described efforts to link the festival with regional theatre organizations as potential venues for previewing and post festival viewings of independent films.  </div> <div> -  NWCTEDC supports the efforts of the Kent Film festival and will assist in promoting their activities as the "Premier Film Festival of the Litchfield Hills."</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Updates</U></B> - JoAnn Ryan</div> <div> <I><B>Tech Day '08</B></I> - October 29, 2008 - hosted by <B>CEBP</B> <I>(Community Educators Business Partnership)</I></div> <div> -  JoAnn Ryan, President of the NW CT Chamber of Commerce, provided an update on Tech Day '08 which was held at Oliver Wolcott High School on October 29, 2008 and included multiple regional manufacturers and technical firms providing overviews to local regional high school students.  </div> <div> -  She also provided an update on the Welcome Center including a recently approved lease agreement with the State DOT.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Adjourn</U></B></div> <div> -  The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 am.</div> <bR> <div> Respectfully submitted,</div> <div> Doug Parker</div> <div> President/Executive Director</div> <div> NW CT Economic Development Corporation</div> <div> www.nwctedc.com</div> <div> info@nwctedc.com</div> <div> (860) 567-2204</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NWCTEDC Minutes"><B>Back to Minutes</B></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>