John Mack - Newtown Supervisor
Newtown Township Preparing to Help #COVID-19 Impacted Businesses Reopen Safely

Newtown Township Preparing to Help #COVID-19 Impacted Businesses Reopen Safely

I put forward the idea for establishing some kind of panel to advise the township on ways to help local businesses to reopen safely during the current and the next phases of COVID-19 restrictions at the May 13, 2020, Newtown Board of Supervisors (BOS) Zoom meeting.

The following 45-minute podcast features a recording of the resulting discussion. You can view the entire Zoom meeting here.

At a May 18, 2020, "Work Session" via Zoom, the BOS decided to "reconstitute" the dormant Economic Development Committee to assist the BOS in connection with economic development in Newtown Township and community and assist in the preparation and direction of the reopening of businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Committee shall consist of not more than 9 members, appointed by the Board of Supervisors, with the understanding that not more than three members may serve on the Committee who are not residents or own property within Newtown Township.

The three persons who are not Newtown Township residents or property owners must be employed and/or working in Newtown Township to be qualified. Of the nine members, one member shall be a member of the Newtown Business Association and one member of the Newtown Business Commons Association.

For more details regarding the term of office and mission of the Committee when it was established in 2017, download the original resolution here or find it embedded at the end of this post.

A few goals of the Committee as originally established, include:

  • Identify every business m the Township and maintain a directory of such information;
  • Identify strengths and weaknesses In various business sectors and ways to improve business sectors that are underserved;
  • Identify business sectors that are driving the economy in other areas and formulate a plan to attract those businesses to Newtown;
  • Conduct resident and business surveys through reasonable means available to the Township to help identify community needs and desires not currently available;
  • Identify economic incentives available through the Township, County, State and Federal government to attract development and redevelopment to the Township;
  • Corroborate with the Township Administration and Board of Supervisors to identify improvements in zoning, planning, permitting and other areas relevant to the advancement of business development within the Township;
  • Assist current and future businesses with understanding and complying with Township regulations to help bolster business activity and improve business relationships between the Township and the private sectors;
  • Any and all other reasonably related goals.

Note that the mission items will be updated to include work products - e.g. guidelines - related to COVID-19 economic recovery.

Apply to be a Member Now

Applications will be accepted until June 1, 2020. Please submit a letter of interest and resume to Olivia Kivenko, Newtown Township, 100 Municipal Drive, Newtown, PA 18940, or by email to oliviak@newtownpa.gov.

Posted on 21 May 2020, 01:15 - Category: COVID-19