The Town’ s Economic Development Committee (EDC) has released a report with recommendations for economic development strategies for South Berwick. Last the EDC began a process to assist them to get a better understanding of what people in the community want for economic development, and to provide a strategic direction for the Town. The EDC hired Planning Decisions, Inc., a consulting company to assist with their efforts. The EDC did in-depth interviews of citizens about their feelings about economic development in the community and then followed up with a public workshop to prioritize their findings. The Committee, with the help of the Planning Decisions, Inc. then looked at the actual economic development facts of the Town, to see what was realistically achievable in the economic development arena.
Based on their research, the EDC developed three guideposts for the economic development strategy for South Berwick:
1. Any strategy for South Berwick must be multi-faceted, and address all four community goals: Reduce residential property taxes; Create new jobs and economic opportunities for residents; Make the community desirable for people to live, shop, and work; Create a sustainable community — energy-efficient, environmentally and economically sound.
2. Any strategy must not only be consistent with, but strengthen, the character of South Berwick. Whatever is done cannot take away from the residential attractiveness, the in-town charm, the historic feel, the natural beauty, the quality of schools of the existing community.
3. Any strategy must be realistic, and meet the straight-faced test. People want to see their tax dollars used effectively, no matter what the purpose.
Based on the research and input from citizens, the EDC., with the help of Planning Decisions, Inc. developed recommendations of the following strategies for economic development.
The Economic Development Committee believes that a local economic development strategy must build on the recognizable strengths of the community.
Strategy 1 – Enhance the downtown
This has several components: 1. Encouraging the clustering of professional offices in the downtown area; 2. Attracting visitors to the downtown – looking particularly at nearby Berwick Academy; and 3. Enhancing the general quality of life downtown.
Strategy 2 – Market South Berwick as a destination for tourist day trips, for student and parent activities, for weddings, and for small business meetings.
This strategy involves linking together, branding, and systematically promoting what mostly already exists in the community – namely, outdoor recreation centers, history, gardens, restaurants and lodges, and bed and breakfast inns.
The benefits of this strategy are increased spending for local businesses; and higher positive name recognition for the Town – which can have spillover benefits in business attraction, attraction of students to the schools, and attracting new residents.
Strategy 3: Be ready for the next large employer – create development-ready sites on Route 236.
There is privately-owned land on Route 236 that could be appropriate for such business development. The Town should assist interested owners to obtain state grants to bring roads and utilities to business park sites. The park should be designed to have an attractive and professional work, because it will be a gateway and image for the community as a whole, and not just the businesses within. The Town needs to be ready
for the next economic recovery.
This is a link to the full report, South Berwick Economic Development Priorities, June 5, 2009, which includes more specific details about each of the strategies. The full report is 50 pages, however the recommendations are included in the first ten pages, with the rest collateral materials and specific information from interviews and research.
The EDC’s monthly meeting, which is open to the public, will be held Wednesday, June 17, 6:30 PM in Meeting Room 2 at Town Hall. They will be discussing the strategies and selecting priorities on which to work.
