A historic meeting is taking place in Bedford and everyone is invited to take part in the town’s economic future.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, the Economic Development Roundtable will bring town and school officials, planners, business leaders and state officials to Bedford’s Ross Lurgio Middle School cafeteria, 47 Nashua Road, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The idea is to gain insight on how Bedford can attract new businesses, retain the businesses – large and small – already in town and increase the town’s tax base. According to Russ Marcoux, Bedford town manager, other major communities in the area have committees, economic development directors and/or advisers, something Bedford lacks. And, the time is right for the roundtable as the town develops its master plan update.

“This is a process that is long overdue, and has been formulated to be participative, as well as interactive,” said Marcoux. “It is prospective, meaning we are dealing with the future, not revisiting the past. We no longer can afford that dynamic.

We need to concentrate on our community’s future and what it should look like.”

Increasing the town’s tax base will ease residential property taxes. As the assessed valuation base increases, the town tax rate decreases. What this will depend on is the degree of that tax base increase. If you look at a lower residential base, the affect on residential taxes becomes obvious, he said.

“Currently we have a great commercial industrial base, but the majority of our assessed valued property is residential. If we do not attract business, industry or retail, that residential base will grow and the residential tax base will bear the brunt of any future tax increases. Look at some of the communities around us with a high residential base, their tax rates are much higher than ours,” Marcoux said.

And the public is a vital part of that process, he said, and it’s in residents’ best interest to atend the roundtable and help plan Bedford’s future.

“Long after the elected and appointed officials are no longer involved, the residents of Bedford will benefit from the plans for our future,” Marcoux said. “Can we decide to not change or attract business development? Absolutely, that is option, however, we have to weigh the consequences of such a decision. Again, that is why the community needs to participate in this process.”

Bedford is a desirable community and at a crossroads with the intersections of Routes 3, 101, 114 and 93, to say nothing of the construction of the airport access road on Route 3, Marcoux said. These areas are prime for development.

After state planners present various topics at the Sept. 13 roundtable, attendees are invited to breakout groups, followed by a look at what steps can be taken.

Those interested in attending can call the town offices at 472-5242 to assure enough seating capacity for this meeting. Refreshments will be served.

Agenda
The Sept. 13 roundtable discussion will include:
1) Welcome and introduction by Town Council Chairman Mike Izbicki and Town Manager Russ Marcoux.
2) Facilitator and Program – Stephen A. Heavener, CRDC
3) Bedford’s Tax Base Balance – Rick Sawyer, town planner; Commercial/Industrial/Residential with Bill Ingalls, town assessor.
4) An Approach to Economic Development, Chris Way, In-State Business Retention and Attraction Service Manager, DRED.
5) Regional Economic Development Update, David Preece, executive director, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission; Stephen Heavener of CRDC will present Collaborative Enhancements in Development. Governor John Lynch will offer his comments.
6) Transportation and Infrastructure, George Campbell of the state Department of Transportation Commission; Airport’s Role in Economic Development, Airport Deputy Director Brian O’Neill
7) Breakout Group Discussions – Connecting the Dots of Economic Development – Infrastructure, Planning, Zoning, Education, Housing in the Community.
8) Next Step Plans, Stephen A. Heavener, CRDC.