Economic Development Commission

Welcome from the Chester Economic Development Commission!

Our Commission aims to foster Chester's economic vitality by attracting and retaining businesses that benefit those who live or work in our town. Our strategies to accomplish this goal are outlined below. We invite everyone with an interest in doing business in Chester - whether as a provider of products or services, as a developer, or as a customer or client - to contact a member of our Commission and express your needs or suggestions.

Current Members:

Skip Haskins
Michael Sanders
Stephen Flett, Chairman
Susan Wright, Co-chair

EDC Email Address

You can contact a member of the Economic Development Commission by sending an email to the following address: edc@chesterct.org

The Chester Business Listing Program

The mission of the Chester Economic Development Commission is “to foster Chester's economic vitality by attracting and retaining businesses that benefit those who live or work in our town.” Consistent with this mission, the EDC has launched a business development program to help Chester businesses market themselves.

The objective is to create a database of all businesses and services. There are no limitations as to the nature or size of the business or service other than it is located within the Town of Chester and serve its residents. Participation is at no cost. The EDC will be promoting the “Chester Business Listing” online as well as through other communication vehicles. This listing will be categorized like the yellow pages to help potential customers find your service.

To assess this listing we have created a new tab at the top of this page called "Chester Businesses". It is accessible throughout the Town of Chester website. To access the listing, click on the above tab.

To enroll or modify your listing complete the enrollment form located under the "Chester Business" section of this site. Thank you for your participation.

COMING SOON TO THIS SITE!

• Setting Up Business in Chester:
A Downloadable Instruction Manual for Business Owners

• Listing of Available Commercial Properties in Chester

• Feature Articles about Chester Businesses

• Other suggestions welcome!

EDC STRATEGIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Foster communication among Chester businesses and encourage them to support each other.

• Retain Chester businesses by complementing their promotional efforts with our own and encouraging the development of properties that will meet their changing needs.

• Attract businesses that would benefit Chester by making them aware of all that Chester has to offer and directing them to available properties in town that may suit their purposes.

• Reach out to commercial property developers who are willing to work within the guidelines of our Plan of Conservation and Development and convince them that Chester is a good place to make an investment.

• Advocate the creation of regulated zones that can accommodate businesses beneficial to our town.

• Help businesses to find employees by working with schools, transportation providers, and owners of town properties suitable for housing a diverse workforce.