WESTPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MISSION & VISION 

Revised March 2023

Mission:  The Economic Development Committee (EDC) of the Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance stimulates and sustains economic growth through proactive recruitment of retail and service business, tourism, outdoor recreation, farming and food, light industry, and the arts.  We recognize the value of an outstanding educational system and a comprehensive health care system as contributing factors to economic development.  

Vision:  The EDC recommends a multi-pronged approach to economic development, with each prong representing a component that contributes to the economic health of the town: tourism, outdoor recreation, farming and food, light industrial growth, small business, and the arts. This approach builds upon the 2013 Economic Development Strategy commissioned by the Town of Westport and the New York State Department of State, and seeks to catalyze existing energy in the community around each of these areas in order to promote the Town’s and surrounding areas’ economic vitality.  It seeks to be proactive; assuming investment in the community must be actively sought after rather than passively waited for. The EDC recommends:

• Proactive Recruitment:  The EDC will focus on researching the existing and potential benefits for industry, business, and service providers to locate in Westport and surrounding areas, as well as on developing new incentives for relocation to and expansion in our town and region.  An EDC recruitment team will actively recruit potential industries and services whose products could profitably be made or service profitably received in the area.   A compelling case for why people should move businesses or services to the Westport area is a critical aspect of this part of the approach.

• Business Loan Fund:  Innovative funding must be encouraged to provide access to capital for start-up, relocation, and expansion of new businesses.  The Committee is currently conducting research on how other communities have successfully established innovative business funding for economic development. 

• Multiprongs:  Because different members of our community have passion for different aspects of economic development named above, teams will be established to research these areas and propose action plans for furthering growth.  Those plans that require recruitment will share them with the recruitment team for coordinated, holistic outreach.

Summary:  In order to stimulate and sustain the economic growth of Westport and surrounding communities, it is vital that the Town, the Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance, the School District, the EDC, and surrounding communities work collaboratively to create an environment attractive to people, businesses, services, and light industry and to proactively recruit the same to invest in this community.  

Developed and approved by the Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance Economic Development Committee
Keith Giles (Chair), Lyn Barrett, Jim Carlisle, Deirdre Forcier, Jim Forcier, Chris Maron, Sue Sherman, Tom Smith, Bruce Ware, Ike Tyler (Advisory Liaison) 

Westport Economic Development Committee 2021 Goals

1. Inform and educate our constituents of our Mission, Vision and Goals.

2. Proactively recruit new business and industry to Westport.

3. Cultivate local, regional, state and federal partners.

4. Invite members from small business, arts, and other local constituents to join the Economic Development Committee.

5. Seek funding to attract tourism to Westport by enhancing downtown business.