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EDAC urges inventory of industrial land, considers TIF and infrastructure hurdles
Summary
Committee members recommended an inventory of commercial and industrial land, discussed re-energizing development of the Brock’s property possibly via a tax-increment financing (TIF) district, and flagged water, sewer and power extensions as primary barriers to attracting industry.
Members of the Economic Development Advisory Committee spent a substantial portion of the meeting outlining longer-term economic-development priorities.
Dale White (Water Utilities Commission) urged EDAC to identify commercial and industrial parcels and to evaluate utilities needed to make land shovel-ready. "I think we should look at our planning board, our inspection team...to just promote doing business in Milford," he said, adding that water and sewer are often the first questions potential employers ask.
Several members suggested the town revisit a tax-increment financing (TIF) approach for the Brock’s property to dedicate tax increments to infrastructure improvements. One member noted the tradeoffs of requiring developers to build infrastructure versus the town taking on upfront costs. Members discussed possible partnerships with utilities but also cautioned that large capital outlays (members cited multi-million-dollar estimates for water/sewer/road/power extensions) pose feasibility questions.
Why it matters: committee members framed these items as central to generating net-positive tax revenue for the town and to recruiting employers that provide living-wage jobs. Speakers recommended producing a consolidated EDAC work plan and delivering an annual or quarterly briefing to the Board of Selectmen.
Next steps: members offered to produce a single document compiling suggestions and potential actions (land inventory, prioritized infrastructure projects, outreach to utilities and potential funders) for submission to the EDAC chairs and the Board of Selectmen.
