Note:  The Economic Health Committee delivered its final report to the Selectboard in October 2020 and has been dissolved.

Economic Health Committee Final Report
Economic Health Committee Final Report - Presentation


Charge: Using the work of the 2017 Economic Health Task Force as a starting point, recommend economic development tools, policies, strategies, and actions that the Town can use with limited resources and staff.

Who: Initially, appoint current applicants for appointment to the Economic Health Committee: ACEDC Executive Director Fred Kenney, Selectboard Member Farhad Khan, and Mary Cullinane

Ask Fred and Mary to recruit up to 4 additional members for the committee. In addition to one Selectboard member, potential members include: Economic Health Task Force Members; business owners and entrepreneurs; one representative from each of the following groups: the Chamber of Commerce, Better Middlebury Partnership, the Downtown Improvement District Commission and Exchange Street business association.

When: Prepare recommendations for presentation to the Selectboard by August 2020. Interim recommendations may be presented when prepared and the Committee will provide progress reports to the Board periodically.

What: Facilitated by Fred Kenney, using the Addison County Development Opportunity Profile and current economic trends as a backdrop, the group will consider the following topics as it develops recommendations to the Board:

- Retaining/Expanding Retail and other Business Opportunities;

- A basic analysis of the economic viability of Tax Increment Financing and/or other means to support infrastructure improvements in the downtown;

- The most effective use of funds remaining in the Middlebury Business Development Fund, including, but not limited to providing revolving loan funds or other low- or no-cost economic development tools that have been successful in other Vermont communities;

- Use of Vermont Community Development Program Grant revolving loan funds to support economic development (activities must be VCDP eligible, not limited to use for revolving loan fund); and

- Other new policies or policy changes, strategies, and actions that a municipality can implement to maintain and improve the economic health of the town.

The Committee’s recommendations to the Board will outline how the effort will be sustained – by a Committee, staff and/or a combination thereof.

(Approved by Middlebury Selectboard, September 2018)

• Steve Boyce - Owner, American Flatbread
• Ben Calvi - General Manager, Vermont Cider Company
• Mary Cullinane - Partner, Community Barn Ventures
• Becky Dayton - Owner, Vermont Bookshop
• Karen Duguay - Executive Director, Better Middlebury Partnership (BMP)
• Scott Gemignani - Owner, Tinker and Smithy Game Store
• Fred Kenney - Committee Chair - Executive Director, Addison County Economic Development Corporation
• Farhad Khan - Owner, One Dollar Market and Selectboard Member
• John Freidin - Middlebury Resident
• Jennifer Murray (Ex Officio) - Director, Middlebury Planning & Zoning