The Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS) has announced its 2017 achievement awards, which will be presented at its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Lyman Apple Barrel Tent (32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield, CT).
CEDAS is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the practice of economic development within the state of Connecticut. The awards are as follows:
2017 CEDAS Member of the Year Award
Paige R. Bronk, AICP, Manager of Economic & Community Development, Town of Groton will receive the 2017 CEDAS Member of the Year Award. This award recognizes a member who has exhibited true leadership in economic development in Connecticut and has implemented an initiative that demonstrates real results and outcomes in the past year.
Groton CT is known for its waterfront and robust business community. A recent article in “Business in Focus” magazine says, “this winning combination has made the town of 40,000 an economic success story as well as Connecticut’s number one tourist hotspot”. Paige has been a big part of Groton’s success. His pro-active leadership this year in Groton has put the town out in front on several critical economic development projects and programs and Paige serves as a role model for other economic developers around the state.
Paige has always reached for more education and learning within the discipline of Economic Development. He has taken courses and continues to seek certifications that will help him grow professionally and will help continue to enhance the reputation of Groton. He has been instrumental in the Best Practices work that is helping to bring all CT communities to a higher level of planning and economic development consistency and quality.
We are excited to continue to draw from his great examples and help support him in all of his fine efforts in Groton and in the Southeastern part of the state.
2017 CEDAS President’s Award
The 2017 CEDAS President’s Award, given to a member(s) who has demonstrated excellence in service to CEDAS. CEDAS President Rebecca Nolan will present the award to John A. O’Toole, CEcD, Community Relations Lead and Garrett Sheehan, CEcD, Community Relations & Economic Development Specialist both from Eversource Energy. John and Garrett have continually demonstrated a passion to support the association by co-chairing the Public Policy Committee.
This year John and Garrett led a brainstorming Summit to create a statewide “Best Practices in Land Use & Economic Development” guideline. In conjunction with the CT Chapter of the American Planners Association, CEDAS plans to launch the concept this fall. Communities will have the opportunity to follow a phased approach to employ best practices to improve the business climate in their communities and the State of Connecticut.