Council Approves $50K For Economic Study
May 24, 2007
Written by Jennifer OsbornCourtesy of The Ellsworth American
ELLSWORTH — The City Council Monday unanimously approved a $50,000 contract with Eaton Peabody Consulting Group to prepare an economic development strategy. “We want a working document … so we have results,” said Micki Sumpter, executive director of the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce. The city contracts with the chamber for economic development services.
Greg A. Mitchell will serve as project manager.
“You’ve got a lot of new retail investment,” Mitchell told the council. “That tells me you want to look at
economic diversification.”
The strategy would address the following issues: economic diversification, capital improvements, assessment of future land needs and staffing needs for economic development efforts.
The city will fund the study with $20,000 in revenue from the Beckwith Hill tax increment-financing district. The remaining $30,000 will come from Coastal Acadia Development Corp. The city has given the development corporation money in recent years for economic development assistance. But, the organization is not as active as it has been.
“I’m very much in favor of this roadmap,” said Council Chairman Gary Fortier. Councilor John Moore said, “They seemed to be tuned in very closely with what we wanted to hear.”
Councilor Stephen Beathem said it was tough to get him to approve spending money but Ellsworth has numerous projects throughout the city.
“We need something to bring it all together,” Beathem said.
Sumpter said, “I promise I won’t allow it to sit on a shelf. We will move forward.”
The study is to be finished by Sept. 24.