Chester Economic Development Commission or CEDC
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The Mission of the Chester Economic Development Commission (CEDC) is to promote a strong local economy that emphasizes tourism, agriculture, forestry, businesses that provide goods and services, and compatible light industry and manufacturing, while increasing the tax base and building local capacity.
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Organization
The CEDC was established by the Selectboard in the fall of 2025 as a 7-member commission consisting of the Town Manager, Town Planner, a Springfield Regional Development Commission (SRDC) representative, and four community members appointed by the Selectboard. The CEDC held its first meeting in January 2026.
The CEDC was established by the Selectboard in the fall of 2025 as a 7-member commission consisting of the Town Manager, Town Planner, a Springfield Regional Development Commission (SRDC) representative, and four community members appointed by the Selectboard. The CEDC held its first meeting in January 2026.
Objectives
The initial objectives adopted by the CDEC are:
The initial objectives adopted by the CDEC are:
- Identify Chester’s place within the region – Chester is its own community, but what is Chester’s role within the region? Role within the State?
- Establish an accurate business registry for Chester, to include all businesses regardless of size.
- Survey and meet with business owners to determine a baseline: how they are doing, where they are struggling, and where they are succeeding? Once the needs of our business communities are known, what are the appropriate roles for the Town in meeting these needs?
- Conduct a ‘Gap Inventory’ to determine which businesses are lacking in the region that Chester would be an appropriate home for.
- Identify what Chester has to offer to the outside world—up to date water/sewer infrastructure, high speed internet, rail siding properties, Route 103 as a national truck network, etc.
- How do we market these attributes to the outside world to attract new businesses to town, how can these attributes be used to further the businesses that already exist here, and what tools could Chester offer?
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Members
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Meetings
The regular meetings of the CEDC are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 PM in the downstairs conference room at the Chester Town Hall at 556 Elm Street. All meetings are open to the public. To join a meeting via videoconference, use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82305697634.
The regular meetings of the CEDC are held on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 PM in the downstairs conference room at the Chester Town Hall at 556 Elm Street. All meetings are open to the public. To join a meeting via videoconference, use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82305697634.