Consultant outlines phased, data-driven approach for Plymouth economic development

Stuart Arnett of Arnett Development Group spoke to the Plymouth Select Board about steps the town could take to restart economic-development work and to translate elements of the master plan into projects.

Arnett described a three-stage framework for projects—"the thinking stage, the getting of resources stage, and then that final doing stage"—and a four-part assessment lens (money, market, people, place) to avoid premature implementation and to identify gaps before large investments. "Projects often, need to go through 3 real simple stages," Arnett said, listing those stages and urging the board to match assessment scope to specific outcomes.

Board members and staff discussed prior work with Plymouth State University, a $25,000 Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) grant for downtown/village commercial planning, zoning updates and water/sewer improvements downtown. Arnett suggested early consensus-building and modest, time‑bounded engagements—such as a few facilitated Saturday sessions or short coaching engagements—to assemble data, build public support and craft implementable priorities. He offered to draft a proposal describing phased steps and estimated costs and to point the town toward other service providers if the board preferred an alternative.

The board agreed to continue the conversation after a follow-up vendor meeting on Feb. 10; no formal procurement or contract was entered during this meeting. Select Board members emphasized the need for public meetings, clear priorities (housing, retaining graduates, leveraging university assets) and realistic budgeting for any implementation phase.

Ending: Staff will follow up with Arnett and other vendors after the Feb. 10 meeting; Arnett will prepare a scoped proposal for a possible 360 Opportunity Assessment and initial steps.