How would you attract more businesses to Newton?

Leading up to the November 4 local election, the Newton Beacon asked candidates in competitive elections for mayor and city council:

How would you attract more businesses to Newton?

John Chaimanis, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large: The city council is not directly responsible for attracting new businesses to Newton; that is the responsibility of the Economic Development Commission (or EDC). I would like to pursue a few important changes to our approach to economic development overall: Ensure that the EDC and the Planning & Development Department have the resources and research to clearly understand the market and the opportunities for Newton to achieve success; Work with city staff (including ISD, Planning & Development) to simplify and clarify the processes for obtaining and retaining permits. This includes ensuring the process is straightforward and clear to ensure there are no surprises; Work to maintain modern ‘uses’ so that Newton is ready to receive new businesses without the need for a Special Permit (or SP). I believe this will improve our ‘business friendly’ stance while still ensuring Newton can shape new business or commercial opportunities.

Cyrus Dahmubed, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large: The first thing we can do is encourage more residents to live in our commercial areas and village centers. More residents mean more customers for our businesses. I’d also support creating new areas for business through a “form-based-light” zoning in our underused and unused industrial/manufacturing areas that would create options for residential, mixed-use, and commercial growth. Finally, as someone with a background in the arts, I’d strongly support efforts to create a new Office of Arts and Culture, to bring new types of business and community building opportunities to Newton.

Lisa Gordon, City Council Candidate, Ward 6 At-Large: In addition to focusing on economic growth, Newton appeals to both small and larger businesses. Small businesses thrive in our village centers, while larger businesses benefit from locations near Rte. 9, 128, and I‑90. We should actively promote Newton not just for its locations, but for everything the City has to offer, positioning it as a highly competitive place to do business.

Julie Irish, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: Newton is a wonderful place to live, and it should also be a great place to do business. To attract more businesses, we need to make it easier for them to choose Newton. That starts with reducing red tape, such as streamlining permitting and licensing so businesses do not experience unnecessary delays. We should strengthen the City’s Office of Economic Development, expand staffing and create a New Business Navigator role to guide business owners through the process. I would also support helping new small businesses with tax incentives or short-term rent relief to ease the financial burden as they get started. As a Ward Councilor, I would want to be notified whenever a new business opens in my ward so I can share it in my newsletter and help connect them with the community, and I’d encourage other Ward Councilors to do the same.

Josh Krintzman, City Council Candidate, Ward 4 At-Large: Newton should create a favorable economic environment to support existing businesses and bring in new commercial tenants. We should regularly engage with local business owners and encourage open and honest feedback about the Newton business environment to ensure that our policies enable their success, while providing needed services and resources to our residents. Through explicit and targeted zoning, along with permitting processes that are simply as possible, and grants for local businesses, the city can encourage and incentivize the uses and businesses we desire. Lastly, regular networking events and community events, we can improve connections between our residents and the businesses that serve them.

Garry Miller, City Council Candidate, Ward 5: Newton has become known as the “city of no” due to its burdensome processes and long timelines. Something as simple as getting signage approved for a business can take months. These ordinances and regulations are in desperate need of modernization and streamlining to reduce needless burdens on our businesses. We also need to engage in a serious conversation with the business community to understand what they find to be the most difficult parts of the city’s processes and bureaucracy to manage and work to mitigate them wherever we can.

Sean Roche, City Council Candidate, Ward 6 At-Large: Nothing succeeds like success. We will attract new businesses to Newton if we take the necessary steps to revitalize our village centers and commercial areas and our existing businesses find greater success. But, it’s not enough to attract new businesses, we need to make it easy to start and expand businesses. We need to reduce red tape and foster an attitude of how-can-we-help-you-succeed with regard to necessary paperwork and regulation. A business owner should know what’s required of them and get all the help they need navigating City Hall.