The decade between 1975 and 1985 witnessed
a community starting to address the necessity to rebuild a turn of the century
industrial park shattered by an incredible fire and significant loss of jobs.
Municipal leaders including Mayors Kelly, Hope and Pacowta invested in plans
to examine the potential for the rebirth of downtown. Business leaders were
engaged to assist in this process.
Initially, the Shelton Commerce and Industry Association (SCIA), a volunteer
led group, was created to clean up the area and hopefully attract new businesses
and investors to rehabilitate some of the existing structures in the area.
They dressed up downtown with flower barrels and sidewalk benches with the
hopes of creating an attractive environment in downtown. In spite of the uncertain
future for downtown, several pioneers, including Nicholas Conti, Ralph Matto
and Ralph Calandro, made significant first steps in encouraging new private
investment. Their efforts included the dramatic and aesthetic renovations of
the historic Pierpont building. The Kreiger building and the old movie theater
were also purchased to be remodeled.
In order to access critical Federal and State
programs and to better leverage private capital and brainpower, Mayor Eugene
Hope organized the Shelton Economic Development Corporation in 1983 and the
Board of Aldermen designated it the City’s “development organization.” Mayor
Hope met with local businesses and consequently, TIE/communications threw
in the first $30,000 to create and provide initial funding for the SEDC.
In fact, the first president was Alan Haas, one of TIE’s executives. Soon
after, Mr. Haas hired James Ryan who eventually became President of the SEDC.
These efforts were combined with initial studies of parking and traffic management
issues and the upgrading of street sidewalks and landscaping. During this period,
citizen support for a significant program of revitalization began to germinate.
1984: The original Executive Committee of the Shelton Economic Development Corporation.
Mayor Eugene Hope
