Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Strategy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Milford EDAC narrows 2025 focus to parking, infrastructure, branding and riverfront as priorities
Summary
Committee discussed setting three top goals for 2025 — infrastructure and utility expansion, parking (including parking‑structure concepts), and branding/marketing tied to downtown and the riverfront — and agreed to draft recommendations for the Board of Selectmen.
The Milford Economic Development Advisory Committee spent much of its Jan. 8 meeting outlining priorities for 2025 and agreeing to present preliminary recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
Committee members and guests proposed prioritizing (1) infrastructure and utility expansion to make development opportunities more feasible, (2) parking solutions for downtown (including concepts such as a modest multi‑level structure or repurposing existing lots), and (3) branding and marketing tied to downtown attractions and the Cochecho/Amalga/Salmon River corridor to build a visitor destination and support local businesses.
Liz Calabrio, representing the chamber of commerce, said Milford stands out among the chamber’s 12 towns for having an active EDAC and described several marketing tools the chamber offers — a printed community directory, member listings, email e‑blasts and a podcast — that could boost visibility. "These types of things give a great presence," Calabrio said, and she offered to promote ribbon cuttings and business openings to increase local engagement.
Committee members discussed concrete placemaking ideas: historic wayfinding signs (a model circulated by Shirley Wilson), multi‑panel electronic kiosks tied to nascent municipal fiber and QR codes, riverwalk and riverfront activation, and targeted outreach to attract weekday visitors and potential hotel developers. Speakers referenced a prior lodging study that found weekend demand but questioned whether weekday business demand would support a hotel.
Members agreed that the committee should identify three practical, near‑term goals with subcategories (one‑, three‑ and five‑year items), gather supporting materials, and present a draft to the Board of Selectmen at their Jan. 27 meeting. Several EDAC members volunteered to attend the Jan. 27 Selectmen meeting to answer questions about the draft.
The committee also emphasized a "customer service" culture across town departments to streamline permitting and reduce developer time and cost, while stressing that speed should not replace compliance with rules and regulations.
No formal vote was recorded on the priority list during the Jan. 8 meeting; members tasked staff to prepare a draft for the Selectmen and will revisit the list at the next EDAC meeting on Feb. 12.
