Consultant tells town, open doors to business

By Meaghan Wims, Journal Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN — The town could take more of its economic potential to the bank if it reaches out to existing new small businesses, promotes tourism and hires a part-time business development coordinator.

That’s the word from The Mayforth Group, a consultant hired by Middletown to study how the community can improve its business climate.

Middletown is well-poised economically, with a blend of commercial entities, residential areas and natural resources.

“Middletown is the high tech and retail hub of Aquidneck Island,” the consultant said in its report, “The Competitive Edge: Recommendations for Enhancing Middletown’s Economic Climate.”

“The Town’s strategic location to Newport, the Navy and the intellectual capacity of the northeast corridor, united with unprecedented natural beauty and quality of life indicators, provides a strong baseline for economic development.”

But, the consultant said, Middletown must do more to plan for its future, keep existing businesses content, attract new ventures and collaborate with the Navy and area defense industries.

The Mayforth Group’s four-month study included talks with local officials and business leaders and focus groups with the Aquidneck Corporate Park Owners and Tenants Association and the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance.

Mayforth’s survey of local businesses showed that most plan to expand their workforces in the next year or at least maintain employee levels. But the consultant was struck by the “overall apathy of the business community.”

“Businesses are mired in day-to-day operations and rarely have time to find ways that government can help them. Many times they view government as a hindrance,” the consultant wrote. “It is important that business and government work together to build the Middletown economy.”

Hiring a business-development coordinator would be a first step toward improving communication and making the town more business-friendly.

Business leaders told Mayforth officials that they found dealing with the town to be confusing, especially because there is no one point-of-contact person. Mayforth’s report recommends the town consolidate economic development duties in a business development coordinator, who could steer businesses through bureaucracy, seek grants and market commercial properties.

The town must also better market and implement its economic development incentive program, which provides tax credits for long-term business growth and new jobs. Few businesses are aware the incentive exists and even fewer use it.

The report also recommends that Middletown:
•Tap defense and technology industries already situated in the community. Small businesses need help reaching customers on the secure Navy base. One restaurateur complained that even delivering sandwiches to the Navy base is difficult.

•Consider establishing a town center or “tourism center” as an alternative to Newport’s Thames Street. Capitalize on Newport’s visitors by drawing them across the town line, perhaps by marketing the fall season.

•Guide further development of the Atlantic Beach area, focusing on improving parking and monitoring Narragansett Bay’s water quality.

•Improve the Aquidneck Corporate Park’s infrastructure by adding mixed uses, such as a coffee shop or restaurant. Together with the Enterprise Center and Corporate Place, the business park should provide the “economic engine” for Middletown with its high-paying technology jobs.

•Address the “brain drain” of young professionals leaving the area because of a lack of jobs and the high cost living.

•Encourage a more visible, active and accessible Middletown Economic Development Advisory Committee, which should hold its meetings at times convenient for small business owners. The committee should work closely with the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission as the area considers future uses of Navy surplus land.

The Town Council authorized $30,000 to pay The Mayforth Group, a firm with offices in Providence and Washington, D.C., headed by Rick McAuliffe, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed. The consultants are expected to also develop a marketing strategy for the town. The Town Council will discuss the report at a workshop on Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. Middletown