Elizabeth Stocker, AICP, Newtown’s director of economic and community development, has been elected to serve a second term as president of the Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS), a not-for-profit membership organization committed to advancing the practice and process of economic development in the state.

The 330 members include municipal, state, and regional economic development professionals, private sector businesses related to the field, educators, economic development practitioners and local economic development commissioners.

The organization is dedicated to providing a forum for the economic development community in the State of Connecticut and does this by sponsoring educational programs and seminars, stimulating networking and the exchange of information among economic development professionals, commissions, organizations, businesses, and other interested individuals, and providing resources for members through its website and social media.

CEDAS is dedicated to fostering sustainable economic growth in Connecticut and works to facilitate communication and coordination between CEDAS members, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), and the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, and supports legislation necessary to improve the Connecticut economy.

Ms Stocker, a Milford resident, helps guide Newtown’s economic and community development activities including grant administration, managing marketing strategies, and redevelopment activities. In her position, she is responsible for business attraction, retention, and expansion, working directly with businesses and town leaders.

Recent activities include attracting Advance Fusion Systems to occupy a 211,000-square-foot industrial site where 200 new jobs will be created, assisting Hunter Gregory LLC with a business incentive that will result in the construction of a new 26,000-square-foot medical services facility, managing a $1.1 million streetscape project in Sandy Hook Village, a $500,000 business assistance grant, and three EPA cleanup grants for the Fairfield Hills Campus.

Ms Stocker is also assisting the municipal financial team with its bond rating interviews with a goal to increase the town’s Aa1 and AA+ ratings. She has successfully managed a village revitalization process that resulted in lowered vacancies, increased property values, and leveraged public-private investments.

During her tenure Ms Stocker assisted dozens of companies who constructed more than 1.75 million square feet of commercial and industrial space in Newtown and managed 25-plus grant projects valued more than $6.98 million.