NEW GLOUCESTER – New Gloucester business owners want a business-friendly municipal government, low taxes, a minimal amount of regulation and the town’s rural character maintained.
Those findings are part of a survey of 209 business establishments, a New Gloucester Economic Development study group learned Thursday. The response rate was 21 percent.
RKG Associates of Durham, N.H., is leading the business and economic development study for the town. Consultant David Versel of Economic, Housing, Tourism and Land Use Planning of Biddeford said business operators have a clear desire for more nonresidential development within targeted clusters, primarily to diversify the town’s property tax base.
The businesses have an average of 17.4 years of operation within the town with an average of eight employees.
The majority are within the service, construction and retail industries.
Half indicated that new businesses such as restaurants, financial institutions and retail and manufacturing operations could help support their enterprises. Most indicated this would reduce travel trips to other communities. Sixty percent said the town is accessible to their customers.
More than half say a clearly defined and understandable land-use law is important to potential expansion of their businesses.
New commercial development should be concentrated at Upper Village/Route 100 and along the Route 26 corridor, the respondents agreed.
About 75 percent say New Gloucester has good access to major transportation routes and provides affordable land and a good quality of life.
Public hearings are scheduled Feb. 2 and 16 to get additional input for a business and economic development plan for New Gloucester. The final results will be completed by the end of April.
The study is being funded from taxes paid by Pineland Farms, which is a Tax Increment Financing District that allows some taxes to pay for issues related to its impact on the town.
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