Economic paneloffers two ideas developme

Friday, January 22, 2010

BY KELLY McGRATH

Staff Writer

BEDFORD – Locating a way to improve the town’s economic development has been an ongoing issue, as businesses like CR Sparks are moving out and the airport access road is being developed.

A committee that spent a year researching options proposed two ideas: a full-time economic development staff person and a volunteer advisory committee. During last week’s Town Council meeting, the volunteer advisory committee recommendation was approved.

“I personally considered this recommendation to be time-urgent due to impending local budget increases, as well as increased state impacts and consequent impact to resident taxpayers,” Town Councilor Bill Dermody said.

The Bedford Business Resource Group is a volunteer committee that represents economic interests. The group acts as business ambassadors for the town.

Responsibilities of the BRG include attracting outside businesses to locate to Bedford, establishing communication and work with state and regional economic development agencies, responding to town administration and Planning Department notifications of business inquiries and to act as a host to any business expressing interest in locating to Bedford.

The Town Council is looking to fill the BRG with community members who have business-related backgrounds. It will comprise seven members, one of whom is part of the Town Council, for staggered three-year terms. The council member will be reassigned each council year and a chairman will be elected annually by group members.

According to the proposal, the committee will meet monthly, or more frequently if appropriate, and will report to the Town Council twice each year to update the community on the health of Bedford business.

In November 2008, a Bedford Economic Development Commission formed with a mission of improving the quality of life for the taxpayers of Bedford by expanding the commercial and industrial tax base.

The 12 commission members included Town Manager and commission Chairman Russ Marcoux, Vice Chairman Jack Sullivan, Henry Bechard, Mark Prestipino, Pamela Brown, Joe Reilly, Alice DeSouza, Michael Sandhu, Bill Dermody, Rick Sawyer and School Board Vice Chair Terry Wolf. Matt Henry, an MPA graduate student at the University of New Hampshire worked as the economic development intern on the project.

Over a year, the group conducted peer reviews, gathered research and met with representatives from local communities. On Dec. 16, they presented their findings to the Town Council with a recommendation to hire a full-time economic development staff position at the cost of $100,000 and to create a volunteer advisory committee.

“My proposal picks up on the volunteer committee as a first step while the Town Council considers the primary recommendation (of a paid, full-time position),” Dermody said.

Following approval of the BRG last week, the Town Council instructed Marcoux to advertise for volunteers with the appropriate business or related backgrounds to apply for one of the positions.

For more information, visit the town Web site at www.bedfordnh.org.