A New Approach To Economic Development In Seymour

Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast

Seymour's Chris Bowen is the guest on the latest episode of 'Navel Gazing: The Valley Indy Podcast.' Click play to listen. Bowen is a member of the Seymour Economic Development Commission, a five-member panel trying to improve Seymour's business atmosphere. The commission recently decided to hire the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) to act as economic development director for Seymour. It's a new approach to economic development in Seymour. Previously the town had a Realtor working in the position part-time. Bowen said a specific dollar amount to bring on CERC has not been finalized, but that he expects the town to get more bang for its buck. Bowen also said the money to hire CERC is coming from his commission's budget. "Bringing in CERC -- who have received plaudits for their work in Hamden and Beacon Falls, among other communities -- allows us to put our EDD role into the hands of experienced people with greater resources, while also giving us the benefit of an outsider's perspective, an important tool in a small town like Seymour, where tenured personalities tend to hold disproportionate sway -- and an available resource for people with questions about investing in our town," Bowen said in a Facebook post. Sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.