Toby Young Named Co-Director

By Lindsey Pizzica Rotolo

Norfolk’s Economic Development Commission (EDC) has a robust agenda for 2015. Newly appointed co-director Toby Young and longtime leader Libby Borden foresee the organization having a fruitful year.

At the top of the agenda is utilizing the consultant that will soon be appointed to Norfolk and seven neighboring towns through the Northwest Hills Council of Governments grant. This $250,000 grant, most of which will pay a two-year salary to the still-unnamed economic development professional, could be a big help with one of the EDC’s goals for 2015: better marketing of the town. Jocelyn Ayer, who has been a loyal attendee of EDC meetings for the past five years, will oversee the new consultant. “Jocelyn Ayer is a godsend,” says Borden. “Her energy and ideas for downtown revitalization are just wonderful.”

The EDC has long had a multitude of marketing ideas that have never gotten off the ground due to lack of funding or initiative. Some of these ideas include a welcome wagon for new or potential residents that would include an inventory of available housing; a list and description of all the businesses in town; a detailed and thorough map of all the town has to offer; and a better town website. With funds in place and an enterprising group of current EDC members, Borden and Young hope that 2015 is the year that all these ideas are realized.

Initially formed to “conduct research into the economic condition and trends of the town” (according to their mission statement), the EDC hopes to gain a better understanding of Norfolk business owners’ needs and challenges in 2015. To that effort, they plan on sitting down with all of them in the near future. “I’m so impressed with everyone in this town,” Young says. “From the two-person home business to Marie Lowe’s company… I really look forward to hearing what we can do to help them.”
By focusing on what works in other comparable towns in the area, Young hopes to complete a detailed analysis of local success stories and see if they can be duplicated here in Norfolk. Tapping the existing resources in town is another priority for Young, “I would love to see an annual volunteer day, where we could all work together on a public project.”

Young left her position as a partner in an investment firm in Manhattan last spring, which has allowed her to spend a lot more time in Norfolk. “I love this town, and feel very lucky to be here.”

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm and good ideas flowing right now,” Borden says, alluding to Kim Maxwell’s Norfolk Next proposal (a 63-page presentation of various initiatives for enhancing Norfolk, available at Town Hall, the Norfolk Library and online), Michael Kelly’s more succinct proposal for downtown revitalization (a summary of which can be found in the Letters to the Editor section) as well as input from current EDC members Pete Anderson, Bella Erder, Mary Fanette, Larry Hannafin, Dan Hincks, Doreen Kelly, Jenny Munch and Jim Nelson.

EDC meetings are open to the public and held on the second Thursday of each month at Town Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their ideas for revitalizing Norfolk.