By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Economic Development Committee and the Planning & Economic Development Director are asking Fairhaven residents to let them know what kind of businesses they would like to see in town. The town has been circulating a survey online and in town with one question: “What types of new businesses would you like to see in Fairhaven.” Residents can name a specific brand or just the business type, i.e., clothing store, jewelry shop etc.
EDC chairperson Cathy Melanson said people have strong opinions about what kinds of businesses they would like to see in town. Instead of sending it out to the social media void, residents can actually make their opinions known.
However, she stressed, the town cannot order a business to locate in the town, or keep one out.
“We can call. But they look at the demographics,” she said, and they have their own priorities and requirements.
She is hoping, however, that if there is enough interest in a certain kind of business, or even a specific brand, that maybe she can use that information to help persuade a business to take a closer look at Fairhaven.
The town can regulate how a building is built and the landscaping and other details, but it cannot tell a landlord what kind of businesses to lease to, within certain parameters, of course.
She said her committee is also committed to the businesses that are already in town. the EDC is going to host another networking event for businesses on April 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Auditorium, 40 Center Street. The event will allow business owners to meet each other, present concerns to town officials, and hear from a representative from MassHire.
The first one, held last November, was a great success, said Ms. Melanson.
“It was wonderful,” she said, adding that the town worked with a couple of businesses to resolve some issues they learned about during that event.
Ms. Melanson noted the town has a deficit and how important growth is for the town.
“We need to grow in a responsible way,” she said.
Planning & Economic Development Director Paul DiGiuseppe agreed that the idea is to get some information they can take to different companies.
“It just helps gives us leverage,” he said, to be able to say the town conducted a survey. “It tells us who we should be targeting to fill some of the vacant spaces in town.”
He said they want to hear from as many people as possible.
A link to the survey is on the home page of the town website, https://www.fairhaven-ma.gov or visit https://tinyurl.com/EDCFairhaven
If you don’t have access to a computer, a survey card will be available for you next to a box outside the Town Clerk’s office, in the Town Hall, 40 Center St., Fairhaven.
The survey ends April 15, 2024. *
*Date changed from previous versions.
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