2022-05-19-EDAC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of May 19, 2022 The Economic Development Advisory Committee [EDAC] met by remote participation for Thursday, May 19th, at 8:00 a.m. via Zoom. This meeting was held remotely pursuant to Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 order suspending certain provisions of G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and subsequent orders imposing strict limitations on the number of people who may gather in one place. EDAC Members present: Rick DeAngelis (Chair), Larry Smith (Vice Chair), Charles Minasian, David Pronchick, Bridger McGaw, Lisa Murray, Adrienne Ortyl Liaisons and Town Staff: Joe Pato (Select Board), Charles Hornig (Planning Board), Sandhya Iyer (Economic Development Director). The EDAC voted unanimously to approve the meetings of March 9, 2022 Meeting Minutes. The EDAC voted unanimously to accept the appointment of Bridger McGaw as the new Vice Chair of the EDAC effective immediately. The EDAC then hear updates from the Economic Development Program Office Staff. The EDAC discussed the new Doing Business in Lexington Guide and opportunities to improve upon the new version. Members were asked to provide Vice Chair Bridger McGaw comments and edits. It was noted that the Center Committee was interested in this material being printed as a micro brochure to be handed out. It was acknowledged that the document was part marketing and part process and that more focused documents should be created that focus on each of these more directly. Additionally, the EDAC noted the town website continued to show the old, out of date guide which needed to be removed. It was noted that the user experience of the new Town Website should focus on how we market the ease of development in our town, that we needed to refine that approach, and that the Hartwell Innovation Park is not called out in any marketing materials, yet. ED Staff shard an update on investment in new Tourism website. That the new website would focus on branding effort to jumpstart marketing of the area, with a new logo and website using ARPA funding (RFI has been issued for services.) The goal is to have a cleaner experience for visitors with ability to purchase services and access information that can more easily done on a new website vs the existing Town Government website. Efforts are also underway to improve the Liberty Ride experience. EDAC requested a written program background from ED Staff to better understand the pros/cons/benefits and longer-term goals here, specifically noting that the EDAC received a survey about the Liberty Ride last month, but without really any context. The briefing would share with us what the costs to the town