Community Corner
Town's First Economic Developer Begins Work
The part-time coordinator said he is working on the town's upcoming Restaurant Week and plans to launch an economic development Facebook page soon.
East Haven’s new economic development coordinator is a 25-year-old graduate student and lifelong town resident.
Alexander Sulpasso, who started work in the newly created half-time town job about 10 days ago, introduced himself to the Economic Development Commission Monday night.
He said he has gone to work on the town’s Restaurant Week scheduled for Sept. 11-17 and has met many East Haven business owners. "They are so happy to meet me, now that the town is taking a proactive approach to economic development," Sulpasso said.
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The Town Council allocated $20,000 in the 2011-12 town budget . Although Sulpasso will officially be hired for a 19-hour week, Economic Development Commission Chairman Robert Limoncelli said the new coordinator expects to devote more time to it than that.
Sulpasso graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in political science. He is currently a graduate student at SCSU pursuing a Master’s degree in public policy administration.
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He said he also works part time as a market analyst for Platinum Associates, a real estate development company in New Haven.
Town Council member Vincent Camera (D-1), chairman of the Council’s Economic Development Committee, suggested that Sulpasso expand the town’s industrial park near the airport. There is a small amount of town-owned land there that could be developed, he said.
Economic Development Commission member Magdalen Sparaco said she thought Sulpasso should record an interview for the local community television channel explaining what his job is.
The new coordinator said he already is working on launching a Facebook page that would notify residents and business owners about news related to East Haven economic development and highlight biographical information about local businesses.
The commission promptly took a vote to authorize the social networking page.
One event that will be featured on the new Facebook page is the East Haven Restaurant Week, which will follow the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Fall Festival on the Green.
Local residents might have a chance to meet the new economic development coordinator at the Fall Festival, Sept. 10-11, at a booth the town will host at the Green.
He said Mayor April Capone views Restaurant Week as an economic development program. The weeklong event is intended to promote the town’s local food service establishments.
