12-5-08

<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> <bR> </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>   |   <A HREF="id109.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="11708">11-7-08</A>   |   <B>12-5-08</B></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>12-5-08</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= 1410 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> December 5, 2008 - 8:00 am</div> <div> <I>NW CT Chamber of Commerce</I></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Attendance</U></B><B>: </B>Allan Borghesi, Doug Parker, JoAnn Ryan, Bob Axelrod, Lou Helt, Dan McGuinness, Rose Ponte, Pat Power, Celeste Echlin, Maura Martin, Vance Taylor, Dwain Snow, Chris Vita, Amy Wynn, Don Stein, State Representative Roberta Willis and State Representative Michelle Cook</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>State Legislative Update</U></B></div> <div> -  Rep. Robert Willis provided a quick overview of the budget problems facing the state.  The state faces an estimated $6 billion deficit within the next two years.  Everything in the state budget will be scrutinized.</div> <div> -  Bob Axelrod, Northeast Utilities, expressed concern about cutting funding for energy conservation programs which have proven highly effective in reducing energy usage and costs.</div> <div> -  Don Stein, Barkhamsted First Selectman, expressed concern about the impact of the state deficits on local municipalities.  Reducing state aid to towns would force the towns to raise property taxes.</div> <div> -  Rep. Michelle Cook stated that state officials are forecasting the loss of 60,000 jobs over the next 18 months.</div> <div> -  Rose Ponte, Torrington EDC, noted a 25% reduction in real estate prices over the past year and a year's worth of inventory that hasn't moved.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>NWCTEDC Year-End Review</U></B></div> <div> -  Doug Parker provided an overview with a slide show highlighting the efforts of NWCTEDC over the past year.  The slide show included the Scenario Planning sessions in March, Task Team meetings in the summer and the efforts to reach out to the entire region.  The next step is to update the CEDS Priority Goals to include the expanded region of 21 towns in NW CT.</div> <div> -  NWCTEDC began 2008 with a newly reconstituted BOD including Directors, Members and Advisors.</div> <div> -  Much of 2008 was spent defining and refining the region's economic issues.  From an original list of 84 issues, the major topics have been narrowed to seven.  Those seven topics were analyzed in greater detail during "Task Team" meetings in the summer of 2008.</div> <div> -  NWCTEDC was able to retain the services of Arthur Bogen as a regional Brownfields Consultant through a grant provided by Northeast Utilities.  Arthur is creating an inventory for the region which will be prioritized for greatest economic development potential.</div> <div> -  NWCTEDC held the November meeting in Kent as an attempt to focus attention on various parts of the region.  Participants supported this initiative and encouraged the continuation of this concept.</div> <div> -  In cooperation with the NW CT Chamber and through a grant provided by Northeast Utilities, a bus tour of New Hartford,Winchester, Torrington, Litchfield and Thomaston provided an overview of available commercial properties in those towns.  Pat Mechare suggested a similar tour in the Canaan area.</div> <div> -  Vance Taylor suggested including more representatives from the manufacturing sector.  Dwain Snow volunteered Alcoa-Howmet as the host for the March 2009 meeting.  Regional manufacturers will be invited to attend.</div> <div> -  Doug will solicit new Directors representing various economic sectors throughout the NW CT region.  He will also seek representatives from multiple towns throughout the region.  New Directors will be nominated for election to a three year term on the BOD at the Annual Meeting in January.</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Planning for next year </U></B></div> <div> -  NWCTEDC Goals for 2009 are to define regional priorities and seek endorsement of the 21 towns for those priority goals.  Strategies will be developed to address each goal to include methods of implementation and evaluation.</div> <div> -  This process would be part of a CEDS - 5 Year Update/Review and an expansion to the 21 town NW CT region.</div> <div> -  New BOD members will be nominated for a three year term at the Annual Meeting in January.  Nominees representing a variety of economic sectors and towns will be sought to provide a diverse NWCTEDC Board of Directors with members from both the public and private sectors.</div> <div> -  Rick Lynn and Dan McGuinness suggested an alternating schedule of BOD meetings and Executive Committee meetings.  There would a total of six BOD meetings and six Executive Committee meetings during 2009.  This concept was unanimously accepted by the BOD.</div> <div> -  Potential issues for discussion in 2009: financial system impact on NW CT, availability of funding for small businesses, workforce development training for lean manufacturing and retraining for the unemployed, working closely with NCCC and UConn-Torrington, establishing a closer relationship with DECD</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Updates</U></B></div> <div> -  Welcome Center is moving along, "Cookbook" will help to generate revenue for the project.</div> <div> -  CEBP is conducting a Career Fair in the fall of 2009 featuring job opportunities and employers in the region.</div> <bR> <div> <I>Chris Vita, Recorder</I></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>