Economic development action plan quietly develops

NORWALK, Conn. – There are brainstorming sessions going on all over Norwalk, under the radar screen of public scrutiny.

Small groups are working on components of an economic development action plan. Michael McGuire said he is leading a group that is working to figure out how to integrate the Wall Street area with 95/7, which had a meeting Wednesday.

McGuire initially invited NoN to the meeting, but said he was told that the presence of the press would inhibit the free flow of ideas. “You’ll see all the stuff developing in the latter part of this month,” he said.

Asked about it via email, Stocker said, “There are various work groups meeting to come up with recommendations for actions to be taken that will assist me in my charge as Norwalk’s economic developer.  They will help to identify the priorities.  Some involve other departments as well.”

This appears to have developed out of the workshop held in late October under the leadership of Brian Baxendale of the Business Advisory Council and SCORE, described as a group of volunteer business people helping small business people solve business problems.

McGuire said the group of 30 to 40 people split up into eight groups. One is focused on education, another on the urban core, he said.

McGuire also is on the Wall Street Task Force. He said that has shifted toward policy discussions, under the leadership of Chairwoman Jackie Lightfield, of Norwalk 2.0. The economic development focus group is focused on practical results, he said.

“Like a football game, Norwalk 2.0 is focused on changing rules,” McGuire said. “We are focused on the player level, winning the game.”