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EDA sets strategic priorities, plans retreat and agrees to May 12 joint meeting with City Council
Summary
The EDA ranked four strategic initiatives — waterfront solicitation, market analysis for key High Street parcels, small‑business program, and collaboration with Rivers Casino — and agreed to hold an annual retreat to align vision and a joint EDA/City Council meeting on May 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Commissioners on Jan. 21 reviewed and prioritized four strategic initiatives and discussed plans for an annual retreat to align vision and project ownership ahead of a joint meeting with Portsmouth City Council.
Top initiatives listed by staff include preparing an RFP for phase‑one waterfront development, conducting a market analysis and feasibility study for EDA‑owned properties at 1028 High Street and 1117/1121 High Street, developing a small‑business program to improve access to capital and collaborating with Rivers Casino management to identify visitor‑driven business opportunities.
The chair said the retreat will focus on clarifying the EDA’s vision for Innovation and Entertainment District properties, establishing strategic objectives with milestones and forming working committees to assign ownership and resources. Commissioners discussed the need for tangible, short‑ and medium‑term deliverables so the EDA comes to the joint meeting with City Council prepared to coordinate implementation.
City staff indicated a joint meeting with City Council has been scheduled for May 12 at 5:30 p.m. on the sixth floor of City Hall; several commissioners signaled that date works for them. The intention is for both bodies to arrive prepared with aligned action plans so the session results in concrete, actionable steps.
Staff said the EDA’s retreat will be scheduled after city council and department head retreats in March so both bodies have had time to develop their vision work before the May joint meeting.
