Janowski Issues Statement On Enterprise Zones

VERNON, CT — Democratic mayoral candidate Claire Janowski issued the following news release this week:

Former State Representative and Vernon Mayoral Candidate Claire Janowski announced today that as Mayor she will be committed to Vernon’s renewal and will seek State Enterprise Zone Incentives such as low-interest loans and business tax credits to spur economic development and increase town revenue.

"These incentives would be a big boost for business growth, local jobs and the development of properties in need of reuse like our old abandoned mills," said Janowski.

Janowski said the Enterprise Zone incentives would attract interest in Rockville’s downtown area and help fill some of the empty storefronts. She said the benefits derived from this initiative will enhance both the purpose and intent of the grass roots revitalization being undertaken by the Rockville Downtown Association and has the potential for putting the unused Citizens Block Building adjacent to Elm Street back on the tax rolls.

"It will attract new merchants and incubator type businesses and may also help attract interest in building a much needed parking structure in the downtown area as first proposed over twenty years ago,” Janowski said.

She said lack of downtown parking was a major complaint of senior citizens at the old senior center building that sits between the Citizens Block Building and Vernon Town Hall as well as merchants in the area and is something that needs to be addressed for attracting new business, pedestrian activity and events. She said her idea is to extend the current State Enterprise Zones to include smaller towns that have adopted the Connecticut Main Street Program or a state approved Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ).

She said towns like Vernon who have abandoned mills and smaller urban centers have similar issues as bigger towns and worthy of inclusion. Janowski said she brought the Main Street Program to the council and proposed the geographic mapping for Vernon’s NRZ during her service on the Vernon Town Council and both were adopted and are in place making the Enterprise Zone Incentives a logical fit,

"Both programs are already in place and maintain the spirit of the State Enterprise Zone Incentives which emphasizes that towns must designate the specific development area, and adopt plans to develop them," Janowski said.

Janowski indicated she has discussed the initiative with Rep. Mike Winkler who likes the idea.

"Any idea that will help create jobs and revitalize vacant or abandoned properties and put them back on the tax rolls is worthy of pursuit and I look forward to working with Claire to craft legislation and bring this initiative to fruition," said Winkler.

“As Mayor, I will be in a position to pursue this important initiative head on and will work with Vernon’s Legislative Delegation to make it happen because the economic boost to Vernon would be a huge plus,” Janowski said.

Benefits to induce economic growth under State Enterprise Zones include: Low interest business loans for property and equipment, state reimbursed property tax abatements and state tax credits for creating new jobs. In addition to her sixteen years of public service as the former Vernon State Representative, Janowski also served on the Vernon Town Council, Vernon Planning and Zoning Commission and Chaired Vernon’s Human Services Commission.