FARMINGTON – County commissioners declined to solicit contract proposals for the county’s economic development activity at Tuesday’s meeting, opting to take up the issue during this year’s budget process.
The Greater Franklin Development Council board of directors had proposed the idea to help develop a request for bid proposals for the commissioners to consider.
The nonprofit council, established in 1998 was founded by local business people as a way to market Franklin County in the wake of Bass Shoe closing down. GFDC initially received $60,000 each year from the county, replacing a preexisting, in-house economic development position. Over the last couple of years, that total has been reduced by commissioners and the county advisory committee to $42,000. Half of the county’s total contribution for economic development services is paid by tax increment financing raised by the Kibby Wind Power Project in northern Franklin County.
GFDC is controlled by a board of directors and operated by Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom. She had previously stated that she intended to retire this summer.
An RFP would allow GFDC and other organizations to submit their proposals to manage economic development in the county. The program could then be funded through the budget as a contracted agency.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Commissioner Charles Webster of Farmington said that he did not intend to fund GFDC or an alternate organization. While he noted he had never had received a single complaint about Hagerstrom, he said that GFDC was “the one function of county government I get the most complaints about.”
“I’m not willing to spend taxpayer money on this,” Webster said, adding that he couldn’t see the “bang for a buck.”
Commissioner Terry Brann of Wilton said that he had heard from business owners that GFDC should be doing more for existing businesses. He noted that GFDC’s initial plan had been to be fully funded by business contributions within five years of its creation, a concept that Brann said hadn’t worked.
Farmington Town Manager Richard Davis pushed back against that argument, saying that “[Hagerstrom] doesn’t get the credit she deserves.” He cited NotifyMD, a medical practice call center in Farmington, and the Poland Spring bottling plant in Kingfield as examples of GFDC working to help bring businesses to the region.
Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong agreed, saying he had learned from his time working with GFDC. “I feel we need to keep it going,” he said. “A lot of people can’t see it move, but I can.”
After some discussion, the commissioners voted unanimously to table the development of any sort of RFP. Commissioners had previously indicated a willingness to explore the idea of taking GFDC out of Programs & Grants, which is chiefly made up of charity organizations, and putting them elsewhere in the budget, such as the commissioner line. The Budget Committee would still have the power to set that line item as part of the process.
Webster suggested he would not support funding GFDC at any amount, while Barker said he wanted to see the organization funded at the previous amount of $60,000. Brann suggested the figure of $42,000, but the actual number will be set through the budget process itself.
Not needed.GFDC wanted local towns to hire an outside marketing company to do the same work they do themselves.I’m with Mr. Webster,we don’t need to help fund GFDC.
So Mr. Webster and Brann,
What do you propose for economic development now that Greater Franklin will likely close its doors. With benefits you cannot hire an economic development director for $60,000 a year unless you add more burden to the towns that you all work for. Ask yourself if GFDC was any help in the wind project that pays big dividends to the unorganized but cannot be spent on towns paying the bulk of the taxes. Be smart or your tax base from businesses will continue to grow. What’s the plan??
So, Charlie.. let’s not encourage any new businesses to come to Farmington/ Franklin County! That way, all of us can pay ever increased taxes in an area of shrinking tax bases. Great muddle headed thinking My. “No- more taxes” Charlie.
Did the GFDC bring Poland Springs to Franklin County? I thought it was the water…
I agree with charlie webster & taxed enough.
In response to Mr. Davis’s quote dealing with Poland Spring coming to Kingfield, Alison was a great cheerleader. Poland Spring came to Kingfield for the water. Kingfield residents during the permitting process requested that a future factory be built in Kingfield. Kingfield residents not GFDC, brought the Poland Spring factory and the positive economic impact to the North Franklin county area.
If I remember correctly, this organization was to be self sustaining without asking for tax payer dollars I believe this was to happen around 2002. If my recollection is correct am I the only one that remembers?
The County was spending $40,000 a year back then (plus benefits) for an economic development director and spinning its wheels. Allison worked with Poland Springs to promote them to come to Franklin County. I was there with her in discussions with Strong. Poland Springs told all of us that they needed Rangeley, (I was there too) Kingfield, and Highland to create a three legged stool to build a plant in Franklin County. The reality was that Kingfield had adequate water to not only feed the Plant but to export to their other plant . Not a drop from Rangeley has gone to the Kingfield Plant. Rangeley’s draw is restricted where Kingfield’s has surplus thus another line is being built. It will be the wrong move to not have a promoter of Economic Development in Franklin County. Taxes will go up instead of down and growth will dwindle to zero.
I am anxious to hear the commissioners plan for promoting economic growth in Franklin County.