Greater Regional Chamber Agreement With City[1]

8/6/2019 Greater Regional Chamber Agreement With City[1]

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WATERBURY REGIONAL CHAMBER

SCOPE OF WORK

FY JULY 1, 2011 - 12

IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF WATERBURYS

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS

Submitted by Lynn Ward

President & CEO

April, 2011


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Waterbury Regional ChamberSCOPE OF WORK FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNDING

FY 2011 - 12

The Waterbury Regional Chamber (WRC) remains a partner with theCity of Waterbury in designing its Economic Development deliverysystem. The WRC continues to work in collaboration with the City, theWaterbury Development Corporation and Main Street Waterbury toimprove the economic viability of the City through economicdevelopment projects, jobs growth and maintenance of our Citysquality of life. The WRC supports the City through its significantcontributions to the WDC Board of Directors and its involvement innumerous City projects and business development.

Similarly the City has been supportive of the WRC in its efforts tosupport and house the Main Street Waterbury program. Main StreetWaterbury focuses its efforts on the revitalization of downtownWaterbury.

The WRC in its own right works diligently in the region as well as inHartford to develop tools and advocate for legislation that supports theCity of Waterbury.The following items are specific to economic development efforts onbehalf of the Chamber:

ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATED LEGISLATIVE AGENDAFOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The City, the WRC and others have been successful in advancing anumber of initiatives that are designed to assist in the Citys ongoingrevitalization efforts. The WRC is now working to better coordinate theefforts of the Mayors Office,the Waterbury Development Corporation, Main Street Waterbury andthe Chambers own priorities to create a comprehensive andcoordinated legislative agenda.

Specifically, the WRC is working in close coordination on economicdevelopment matters with:

the Mayor and his staff

the Waterbury Development Corporation

the Main Street Waterbury Corporation

the Small Manufacturers Association

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Department of Economic and Community Development

CT Small Business Development Center

U.S. Small Business Administration

The following items are economic development priorities identified and

supported by the Chamber: Brownfield legislation that provides a dedicated funding source

for Brownfield remediation

Additional funding for Incumbent Worker Training programs

Support for the Regional Multi-Model Transportation Center

Collaboration with the Transportation Strategy Board to ensurethat the Greater Waterbury region receives adequateinfrastructure investment

Support of the Waterbury Rail Branch Line

ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATED STRATEGIC PLAN FORECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Similar to our collective efforts in matters of legislative importance, theCity, the Waterbury Development Corporation, Main Street Waterburyand others have established their visions and strategic plans for theCitys economic revitalization. A single coordinating entity that hasties to all other major economic development initiators will ensure ahigher level of performance and achievement. While the Waterbury

Development Corporation and Main Street Waterbury are focused onimplementation, the WRC is uniquely positioned because of itsleadership roles with Main Street Waterbury, and the WaterburyDevelopment Corporation (WDC) to coordinate the strategic planningefforts of these two organizations on behalf of the City. At such time asthe Mayor requests the assistance of the Chamber, the Chamber willbe prepared to coordinate the strategic plan. The cooperation and fullparticipation of the City will be crucial to this endeavor. This plan willbe coordinated with Renaissance Downtown, the preferred developerrecently chosen.

Specifically the Chamber will:

Retain the services of an Economic Development Consultant

Continue working with Main Street on the faade program fordowntown

Continue supporting WDCs efforts on Brownfield remediationespecially the $15 million Chase Industrial Commons property

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Market the economic development opportunities for the ChaseIndustrial Commons property

Work with WDCs consultant on the Cherry Street Brownfieldremediation plan

Develop and distribute a marketing brochure to showcase the

finer attributes of the City Work with existing businesses to retain and/or expand their

business

Expand the WRCs existing marketing relationship with the City

Serve as a resource to the Citys other economic developmentpartners, the Waterbury Development Corporation and MainStreet Waterbury

Market the City to prospective investors

Aggressively seek new business opportunities

Market downtown livable city venues, restaurants, market rate

housing Help develop plans to expand UConn in downtown Waterbury

Work with Renaissance Downtown, the Citys chosenpreferred developer to develop a long term developmentinitiative

House a satellite office for the Connecticut Center for AdvancedTechnology and support CCAT to help existing manufacturersand attract new ones

Support WRC and the Citys vision to create a Green TechnologyZone; green jobs for Waterbury.

Work with Congressman Murphy and others to find grants and

technical support for alternative renewal energy, especiallysolar, wind and geothermal

Encourage the university/colleges in the area to focuscurriculum on environmental studies. UConn, University ofBridgeport, Western CT State University, NVCC, Post University

Use Rowland Roundtable meetings to get more businesspeople and stakeholders involved in the process

Help to attract federal funding to the Waterbury Region, workingwith Congress Murphys office and CCAT

Create a manufacturers expo to provide Waterbury students

access to manufacturing as a career Open a full-time office of the CT Small Business Development

Center in the WRC to educate and counsel the general public tostart and operate a business in Waterbury and the region

Work with Loyola Development Corporation on the South Enddevelopment project

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Work with the greenways task force to develop the NaugatuckRiver greenway

Develop energy committee for group buying discount forbusinesses in the City of Waterbury and region

Scope of Work Total Investment $100,000July 1, 2011 June 30, 2012

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Documents

Greater Regional Chamber Agreement With City[1]