Economic Development Commission - Minutes - 10/10/2024

FIFTEEN ROPE FERRY ROAD WATEREORD, CT 06385-2886
MINUTES
WATERFORD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
October 10, 2024
WATERFORD TOWN HALL
5:00 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Edward Lusher, Chairman, Kathleen Mullen-Kohl, Guy Russo
MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Buscetto, James Nicholas
ALTERNATES PRESENT: Julie Greco
ALTERNATES ABSENT: _ Scott Gladstone
STAFF PRESENT: Jonathan E. Mullen, AICP, Planning Director, Mark Wujtewicz,
Planner, Dawn Choisy, Recording Secretary
CALL TO ORDER/APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES
Chairman Lusher called the meeting to order at 5:00 and seated J. Greco for J. Nicholas.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - September 12, 2024
MOTION: Motion made by G. Russo, seconded by J. Greco to approve the minutes of
the September 12, 2024 meeting as written.
VOTE: 4-0
WOMEN’S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Laura Blake and Susan Hackett, representing the Women’s Business Development
Council reviewed with the Commission how the WBDC supports women-owned
businesses through grants and business consulting. (see attached), -
2 2
m
te)
rs)
(G. Russo left the meeting)
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business
OLD BUSINESS ae ;
EDC Sponsored Open House “"S 2 2
R.T. Brown of seCTer gave a re-cap of the open house. He stated hat théfe was follow-
up from some of the attendees expressing interest in the programs that seCTer offers.
Gateway Signage
The Commission reviewed the design of the existing Welcome to Waterford signage, and
offered suggestions on the design of the new signs. Philip Medbery of the Blacksmith
shop offered suggestions.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Motion made by J. Greco, seconded by K. Mullen-Kohl, to adjourn the
meeting at 6:17.
VOTE: 3-0

Women’s
Business
Development
Council
How
We
Can
Help
Your

3%
Women’s
Business
“es
Development
Council

¢
35
staff
members
*
Diversity
of
team
reflects
the
population
we
serve:
43%
people
of
color
*
6
fluent
in
Spanish
Women’s
Business
==
Development
Council

Wes.
ee
ae
=ae
1G SUSLUOAA,
[lpunoZ JUSLUdojaAsq
SSSUISN:

Empowering
women
entrepreneurs
in
Connecticut
for
more
than
26
years!
Since
©
14Ke
1997:
©
Businesses
S57M=+
Launched,
Client-accessed
Sustained
Capital
or
Scaled
(including
$7.7é
pare
a
in
WEDGE
grants
since
2620)
18.9K+
Clients
Served
from
All
169
31.4K+
€7 Towns Jobs Created S694M
or Retained Client-earned
Revenue
Women’s
Business
Development
Council

2,991
clients
served
client-accessed
»
=
capital
SS,
Client
impact
in
2023
58
new
business
9,037
jobs
created
or
retained
12,147
hours
of
classes
and
business
advising
ie
s
Women's.
Business
Development
Council

DEMOGRAPHICS
47%
Owned
by
People
of
Color
64%
Low-to-Moderate
Income
43%
In
Economically
Distressed
Communities
ov
“Se
Se
STAGES
OF
BUSINESS
%.
Women’s
Business
=
Development
Council

Since
1997,
WBDC
has
served
over
19,000
clients
fo)
>
ae
Q2°8
Sip
SF
it
yA
EDUCAT
INVEST
CULTIVATE
ADVOCAT<
TRAINING,
GRANTS
AND
NETWORKING
FORUMS
AND
ADVISING,
AND
TECHNICAL
AMONG
OPPORTUNITIES
MENTORING
TO
ASSISTANCE
TO
ENTREPRENEURS
TO
TO
VOICE
THE
GUIDE
ASPIRING,
ACCESS
CAPITAL
TO
RAISE
VISIBILITY
NEEDS
AND
EMERGING,
AND
ASPIRING
AND
AND
OPPORTUNITIES
IMPACT
OF
ESTABLISHED
ESTABLISHED
—FOR
THEIR
WOMEN-OWNED
ENTREPRENEURS
ENTREPRENEURS
BUSINESSES
BUSINESSES
ALONG
THEIR
THROUGH
THE
GROWTH
OPPORTUNIFY
FUND
IDSLIPALES
ZOORNET
AND
OTHER
FUNDERS
$%
Women's
Business
@a=
Development
Council

Concept Clinic: 7-session business concept development course for aspiring
Plan for Success (GPS): 9-session business plan development course for
and
emerging
entrepreneurs
oks 101: 3-session QuickBooks basics course for business owners
g FUNdamentals: 7-session course for business owners that want to handle
g Made Simple: single session classes on marketing topics, e.g., Branding,
Foundations: single session classes on financial topics, e.g., Sources of
Essentials: single session classes on a variety of topics, e.g., HR, Government
VVomen’s Business
bain

KENYETTA
BANKSJoy
BRADDOCK
CAROLCHESWICK
SAMANTHACROSS
LINDA
FECTEAU
JANET
JOHNSON
START-UP
TORRINGTON
BUSINESS
ACCESS
TO
CHILD
CARE
WATERBURY
PLANNING
CAPITAL
i
Nin
lea
TANYA
KELLEY
PAT
POSADA
SHERRY
KONWERSKI
TERRI
PIEKARA
ZAYED
RODRIGUEZ
CHILD
CARE
KLAPPER
BOOKKEEPING
&
SOCIAL
MEDIA
BUSINESS
PLANNING
FINANCE
FINANCE
(SPANISH)
(SPANISH)
38%.
Women's
Business
“ee
Development
Council

GRANTS TO GROW WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
LAUNCH PAD: $2,500 TO START-UP BUSINESSES OPERATING FOR 2 YEARS
OR LESS THAT COMPLETE A WBDC COURSE (GPS, BCC, MARKETING
FUNDAMENTALS)
IGNITE: UP TO $10,000 FOR BUSINESSES OPERATING FOR 2 YEARS OR MORE
FOR CLEARLY DEFINED GROWTH PROJECT
GRANTS TO SUPPORT AND GROW CHILD CARE BUSINESSES
START-UP GRANT: UP To $5,000 FoR FAMILY HOME PROVIDERS AND UP TO
$25,000 FOR CENTER BASED PROGRAMS FOR START UP EXPENSES TO
ASPIRING & NEWLY LICENSED CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
EXPANSION GRANT: UP To $25,000 FOR GROWING CAPACITY OR OPENING A
EMERGENCY FACILITIES GRANT: UP TO $15,000 FOR URGENT FACILITIES
REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TO REMAIN OPE AFELY
2% Women’s Business
= Development Council

FUNDAMENTALS)
IGNITE: UP TO $10,000 FoR BUSINESSES OPERATING FOR 2 YEARS OR MORE
FOR
CLEARLY
DEFINED
GROWTH
PROJECT
GRANTS
TO
SUPPORT
AND
GROW
CHILD
CARE
BUSINESSES
ASPIRING
&
NEWLY
LICENSED
CHILD
CARE
PROVIDERS
EXPANSION GRANT: UP TO $25,000 FOR GROWING CAPACITY OR OPENING A
NEW
LOCATION
EMERGENCY FACILITIES GRANT: UP TO $15,000 FOR URGENT FACILITIES
REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS TO REMAIN OPE AFELY ;
3% Women's Business
‘>
Development
Council

75%
of
CT
towns
774
businesses
Women’s
Business

CA
arts,
Culture
&
Design
—s
Education
Fashion
&
Jewelry
S€
Feod
&
Drink
Health
&
Welness
>
s&
Home
&
Garden
Hospitality,
Travel
&
Recreation
Medical/Healthcare
4