Westport to Participate in Regional Economic Development Event

WESTPORT, CT - From the Town of Westport: First Selectman Jim Marpe announced that Westport has joined four other area municipalities that are seeking to promote Lower Fairfield County’s commercial and residential appeal. This group, currently known as The Fairfield County Five, includes Stamford, Greenwich, Norwalk, Fairfield and Westport. Together, the five municipalities geographically encompass the commercial core of Lower Fairfield County.

The Fairfield County Five is an economic development group that will be arranging business outreach sessions to highlight real estate opportunities within the area, host tours, and educate those outside the region about the business and residential environment within the five localities. The goal is to attract service, marketing and emerging technology businesses that will benefit from as well as enhance Lower Fairfield County with their presence.

Mr. Marpe and Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Matthew Mandel will attend and participate in the group’s first business recruitment showcase in New York City on November 2. The objective of this NYC area showcase will be to promote Lower Fairfield County to businesses that may be seeking an opportunity to relocate or expand to a more desirable, economically advantageous location.

Mr. Marpe commented, “This event will provide Westport with a seat at the table and enable us to attract businesses and residents to this area in a personal, face-to-face setting. We will highlight the benefits of our special community as a place where appropriately sized businesses can find highly educated and motivated employees, and where business owners and employees alike will want to set down roots and reside.”

Governor Dannel Malloy and State Economic Development Commissioner Catherine Smith will speak at the event. There will be a brief presentation about the five communities’ business and residential attributes, including cost, talent, innovation, transportation, and quality of life. There will also be testimonies from businesses and small start-ups who can speak to the attendees about their experiences with Fairfield County. Following the presentation, Mr. Marpe and Mr. Mandell will have the opportunity to network and speak about the advantages Westport has to offer, and to invite entrepreneurs and business owners to visit and take a tour. Mandell said, “Westport is the ideal location for smaller companies to locate to and have their employees and other companies’ employees live and enjoy all that we have to offer.”

A number of local commercial property owners and commercial brokerage representatives have indicated interest in participating in both the November showcase and the subsequent tours of Westport. The Town is seeking additional commercial property owners and brokerage firms who may be interested in participating. Mr. Marpe stated, “I encourage interested parties to step forward and express their interest in working with my office and the Chamber of Commerce to develop a residential and business recruitment strategy for the Town of Westport. By forming partnerships with and strengthening communication between our municipal neighbors, the five cities/towns are poised to collaborate on promotional activities and to apply for regional economic development grants. This effort will be an important step in keeping Westport and Lower Fairfield County competitive in the commercial marketplace.”

Image via Town of Westport