Page 33 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 47 Spring 2024

FROM THE DESK OF JOE
Viewing town, and definitely some statistics

that may surprise you. For instance,
Wallingford from we all know how we enjoy low electric
rates, but did you know that half of
Our Perspective Connecticut’s workforce can reach
Wallingford in 20 minutes or less?

The first place we invite you to explore
is clicking the box that says, “WINNING
IN WALLINGFORD” located midway
down the first page, which brings you
to a section with a treasure trove of
information. We invite you to watch
the videos that have been created to
provide a glimpse into town life that
Joe Mirra goes beyond all the statistics and
EDC Chair economic information essential for
businesspeople.
Among all of the responsibilities
that the Town of Wallingford must There is also information on the
fulfill, your Economic Development important economic incentive
Commission has a unique one. We are programs your town government offers
charged with “marketing” Wallingford to new businesses, some of which
to the business world: those that are most citizens may understandably be
seeking an ideal location in which their unaware of. There is information about
organizations can grow and thrive. That programs that the Wallingford Electric
is the topic of this issue’s column: we Division offers regarding energy
invite everyone who lives here to see conservation as well as business
their town from our perspective. incentives to new customers.

The challenge EDC faces is that, in many Indeed, there are pages of statistics
cases, the people who will ultimately under the Town Profile and
make the decision to locate facilities Demographics section designed to
here may know very little about our provide prospective businesses with
town. In addition to that, they are an in-depth look at Wallingford, but
inundated with solicitations from many residents may be surprised at what
other towns and states – and even they read there as well. For instance,
countries – that are competing for their Wallingford’s land area is 39 square
attention. There is no such thing as miles. That makes up the 34th largest
“Build it, and they will come.” of Connecticut’s 169 towns.

For EDC, job one is attracting the We present all of this to the residents of
attention of those developers and Wallingford to give you a view of some
companies, and, in this day and of the work that EDC does to draw
age, it starts with a good website. business and industry to town. That’s a
Where it used to be publications and vital part of our job, and our success will
conferences, today’s “foot in the door” be reflected in Wallingford’s continued
is digital. While Wallingford has had a growth, job opportunities and healthy
web presence for several years, we are retail options. We wanted to give our
finding it crucial to keep it fresh and neighbors a different viewpoint from
relevant. As with any first impression, which to observe the place that we
we often have a very short time to make all call home. We are positive that the
our case, to draw more interest, and to few minutes spent on the EDC section
make Wallingford stand out from the of the town’s website will give you the
competition. sense of pride in Wallingford that we
share with the outside world every
We invite you to go to www. day.
wallingfordct.gov/businesses, the
section of the Town of Wallingford
website that EDC occupies. There is a
ton of information that we think may
give you a different perspective on your

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