Online permit system, other items aid Southbury economy
SOUTHBURY — While the location off of Interstate 84 has made a major impact on Southbury’s economy and ability to enjoy retail growth, a new online permit system and more townsponsored retail store promotions are expected to help impact the business climate, local officials say.
Southbury Economic Development Director Kevin Bielmeier believes a local online startup business, www.Southbury.com, a Southbury informational website promoting local businesses, has been another plus in Southbury’s economy.
Southbury First Selectman Jeffrey Manville expects the launch of a town online permit system will help make the administrative process of owning a business more efficient. There will be an internal launch of the permit system at Town Hall on Monday and the official launch with public access on the town’s website at https://www.southbury-ct.org will take place on April 1.
The online permit system will begin with building and zoning permits. These permits will be offered first and then gradually more types of permits will be added once the town gets used to the system.
“Online permits is something we actually considered pre-COVID-19 and we looked at the software to get it done,” said Manville, who spearheaded the effort. “The pandemic just hastened the process along. We’re doing Building and Zoning first because those two are the bulk of the permits we issue.
“It will help the permit process go quicker for businesses and help ease the administrative workload of the process here at Town Hall.”
Previously the town offered online permits to be downloaded, printed and then dropped off at Town Hall. But on April 1 residents and businesses will be able to submit the permit application online instead of dropping off a printed copy at Town Hall.
The online process starts internally at Town Hall on Monday to work out any kinks prior to the official launch. By the following week, the online process will be available to residents at Town Hall and anyone who comes to Town Hall for a Building or Zoning permit will be asked to fill out the application at a kiosk and submit it. The system will also let you make online payments.
In addition to the new permit system, the town’s economic development department and the Southbury Business Association have combined to offer an “Eat, Click, Submit, Win” restaurant promotion that runs through March 21 (info is available on the town website). Bielmeier has plans for more promotions to encourage people to shop local, and an economic incentive proposal aimed at spurring new development.
Bielmeier also believes www.Southbury.com has been a plus in showcasing Southbury’s retail community. It is a Southbury informational site on what to do in Southbury, where to shop and where to eat. It also lists promotions. It is a private enterprise owned by Michael Ferreira and unaffiliated with the town, supported by advertising and the business is a member of the Southbury Business Association. He started Southbury.com in October 2020 after 20plus years in the corporate world.
“I’ve always had a love for geo domains like Southbury.com and when that domain name came on the market, I didn’t hesitate to acquire it,” Ferreira said. “I knew with a solid business plan and a lot of hard work, that I could turn it into a full time business. Southbury.com was built with two founding pillars in mind.
“First, to aggregate events that are happening in and around town and provide people with the ability to discover everything that this great town has to offer, from parks and religious centers to restaurants, shopping and other business services. Our second pillar is to help drive traffic to local businesses and to help local businesses stay local. Southbury wasn’t immune to the effects of the pandemic, so being able to give back in any way we can is rewarding in and of itself. Every Southbury business receives a free business listing on our site.”