In my last editorial, I asked for your thoughts on how Stafford should approach Economic Development. The problem with that question is that so many people think Economic Development is just to list things they want. We already know what those things are – another grocery store, a big box store like Walmart, more fast food options. Occasionally, I heard from someone who wants something different, like an arcade. Here’s the thing: towns aren’t in the business of… well… business. Towns can do things to attract more businesses – and if they are smart, they do it carefully and thoughtfully – but they can’t be the ones opening and running those businesses.
So, before we discuss your ideas about economic development, let’s define what we’re talking about. Here’s a video that helps explain what we mean when we talk about economic development.
Or, if you don’t feel like watching a video, here’s a good definition from Study.com: “Economic development includes initiatives that improve infrastructure, enhance our education system, better our public safety, improve parks, and foster endless ways to incentivize and attract new businesses and jobs.”
Got it? Good.
Now, let’s share some of the ideas you sent in through email and social media. I have lightly edited responses for spelling and grammar, but these are your ideas.
Matthew D. wants to work on bringing rail back to Stafford. Here’s what he had to say:
A few basic points:
The rail is already established. It already hosts freight
The old station was never torn down it hosts the police station and ice cream. Perhaps the building at Hyde Park could be a new police station, which would bring more security and less vandalism if police were there.
The study was pre-COVID. Now we have more people that have moved to the area. I would argue at least 20% of the housing stock in Stafford has sold in the past three years. Some that came from other areas want more.
Rail is coming to Western Mass, and the Palmer station will happen. That means once it is made, people will be able to drive 20 minutes to Palmer and then take a train to Boston. Boston jobs can come to Stafford but this leaves out other employers here.
Electric boat is hiring thousands of people each year going forward. They are going as far as Hartford and New Haven to find people. If rail can bring them there that means
Places like Willimantic and Mansfield want students to have fun, but off campus and out of their neighborhoods. This could enable students to go to Mohegan Sun and New London, with connections to Block Island and Long Island.
This can bring people into Stafford with less traffic. If the Palace Theater opens again during a Speedway race that could bring 1,000 people into town. We do not want 1,000 more cars coming into town, let alone with a place to park.
Between employment, education, and entertainment, it could be a good boost. Also, the recent announcement of more incentives for transit housing assistance could help get grant assistance. Businesses often look at margin and volume. If we want to have other businesses come in, transit might be the only way to increase volume without raising prices. I lived in Springfield for five years and saw how Union Station was able to reopen. I do not think that it would take the same amount of time, but given everything around us, I think we would not have that many detractors.
Mark P. says: Would be nice for the community to form a pact... that small businesses are in and corporations are out. The mom-and-pop shops have been decimated by corporate America- with their bulk buying power and undercutting the small businesses; we need to return to a time of self-sufficiency as a community and not be at corporate America's mercy. Bring farmers' markets to the town square (Stafford st used to be the main drag historically). Big Y absolutely has a monopoly in this town and has for years. Competition is healthy and keeps pricing in check between competitors. If this is the type of town you want, you have to participate in town meetings – get involved and offset the activism that works against what makes this town what it is and has been for years. Politics drives a lot of it. Direct action drives change.
Krystal B. says: A town bus would be nice for those who can't drive. So many new stores and places, but not everyone has access to them.
Christine J. says: Surely not to sell out to corporate power...stay a town and stay local..if you bring a chain store in, have it be something like Trader Joe's that is organic and farm to table... it's not an Aldis but is its sister company...promote more health and holistic...bring in a holistic practice so people have a healthcare choice...take all the vacant school properties and open neighborhood gardens where residents can learn and practice growing their own food...open a restaurant or shop downtown that has farm to table food grown locally… including local farmer meats...what about an affordable health food store where people can practice natural remedies...build a greenhouse for the school and introduce horticulture and permaculture to the curriculum. teach children how to grow, cook, and can foods. I always thought there should be a memorial to mark where our once lavish Stafford Springs Motel once stood. Bring back The Grange.
Lenny C. says: If ARPA funds or a community grant was given to Main St., the first thing I would do is open the theater! Host 50 shows from April to October. organizations can sponsor shows, restaurants can cater dinner, and it will help fill other establishments before and after. The theater is good for the community and should be used as an economic driver. It just sits there but could be a huge benefit for the area, let's get it open!
Gary S. says: More light business/industry that will REDUCE homeowner tax burdens. More housing/people is NOT the answer as we do NOT have enough for the people that are already here (parks, recreation). A full-on grocery store would be nice, BUT good luck with that unless some local people want to do another co-op-type store.
Joshua G. says: Would also be nice if that micro parking lot downtown got torn up and a parking garage got put in its place. That’s part of the problem of why there are no shows go to the palace, and the flow of people shopping downtown is minimal. It would increase significantly with a decent-sized parking area.
Jacqueline D. says: I would like to see a small bussing service develop in town. Stafford city buses of sorts, but they would be smaller senior-style buses, no need for large CT Transit-style cans. They would go as far as the TA, and the Somers line the other way, mostly staying closest to downtown and other high-walking roads.
What stood out to me
There were a lot more responses than just those listed above, but many of them were similar in nature. As I read through them, there were a few themes that emerged.
Transportation
Between Matthew D’s plan to bring passenger rail back to Stafford and a strain of thought that suggests we need large retailers in town to serve people with limited access to transportation, it’s clear that transportation is on many people’s minds. Two things immediately come to mind for me:
Every town has people who don’t have access to their own transportation, and many of those towns lack public transportation, much like Stafford. We can’t put a Walmart in every town just so no one ever has to leave to buy socks, but it did get me wondering if people know about the program that already transports seniors and people with disabilities to central shopping centers: “The bus for adults 60+ and people with disabilities offers social trips and out-of-town shopping trips to locations that offer access to groceries and other items. Examples of trips we might run include the Aldi’s/Ocean State Job lot plaza in Enfield or an area Walmart. Our driver/attendant would assist with putting groceries on and off the bus as well.” Here is the schedule for the trips the group took in January.
Even if we could raze the Country Village Shoppes tomorrow and throw up a Target, many people in town would still require transportation to get there (just look at the Bus Trip to Big Y). Even for the able-bodied, walkability in town is problematic, but for those who can’t walk miles with bags, transportation would still be a barrier.
Industry vs. retail
When I think about economic development, I think about industry. Retail doesn’t ultimately do a lot to bring good jobs to a town, but industry does. Only a few people brought actual industry up in their comments. There are too many half-empty strip malls (and defunct malls) scattered across the state and the country to convince me that large-scale retail is the way to go – but we see the tide shifting back toward manufacturing.
A while back, Jacob Long from American Woolen came to an EDC meeting to talk about his vision for making Stafford a hub for light manufacturing and bringing in more businesses that are complementary to American Woolen. He says – and the experts agree – more companies are interested in sourcing their goods domestically since the supply chain disruptions precipitated by COVID-19 exposed the problems with buying everything overseas.
Meanwhile, TTM Technologies is planning a big expansion in New York, and the State of Connecticut has been pushing hard to help its manufacturing sector grow. Connecticut has many specialty manufacturers, and we already have several in town. Focusing on growing these businesses will ultimately bring the money and the people needed to entice service-based businesses to town.
Unrealized potential
When I think about Stafford’s potential, I think about the Palace Theater – a place that came up in many of your suggestions. When I lived in Brattleboro, Vermont – which is similar in population to Stafford – there were two very different theaters in town. The Latchis is a historic movie theater that also hosted speakers when the annual Literary Festival came to town. The Stone Church is an old church that hosts everything from live music to craft fairs to farm-to-table dinners, and I’ve long thought that The Palace could learn a thing or two from these businesses. Live music acts are expensive to book – my business partner used to do this in her former life – but a space like The Palace can be so much more than just a place to listen to music. Dance parties. Movies nights. Community theater. We could have it all. In Belfast, Maine, a non-profit formed to take over the state’s oldest theater and ensure its future, and I have to confess, I’d love to see that happen in Stafford. We could turn this history back into the center of the community and the cornerstone of the economy with a little imagination.