The Economic Development Committee came out with its updated Business, Non-profit & Community Guide this month.*
The guide is the committee’s latest version of a marketing document used to help attract businesses to Southborough. The intro pitches:
As you read through this guide, you will see why Southborough ranks in top categories of Massachusetts towns for amenities, housing and business opportunities. We take pride in Southborough which is so much more than a quintessential New England town. It is advantageously located, provides excellent public transit services, exceptional schools and a highly skilled workforce. Southborough has always been a place where newcomers are greeted warmly and new business is welcome. This guide provides you with insight as to why:
• Residents prefer to live here
• Companies/businesses want to locate here
• Non-profits have established their campuses here
You can view the full pdf here.
The publication was funded “by Southborough businesses and non-profit advertisers as well as donations.” The first version of the guide was produced in 2011 by the “Economic Development Team” – an association that pre-dates the EDC.
*EDC made the announcement the first week of April. It was one of many items that I couldn’t fit in running up to Town Meeting. Those of you who attended the meeting might have seen it among the handouts.
Great work! Thank you
That is a well produced guide. Just wondering how successful is the EDC in bringing in new businesses? If interested businesses go elsewhere, are there reasons given?
Just curious is all.
How much did this brochure cost to produce? Who is the target market? How is it being distributed. In a time when money is of great concern to many people, was this the best use of our tax dollars? I assume it came from taxes, maybe I shoudln’t. If it did, when does this stop?
As the post explains, the production was paid for through advertisers and donations.
But I don’t know how much of Town staff’s time (e.g., the EDC coordinator) was dedicated to the work, so I won’t claim it is zero cost. But many Town officials believe it is important to market the Town in order to attract businesses and support the Town’s economy. That is the purpose of the EDC and this is one of their tools.
I see now where the money came from. Still curious about the other questions.