EDC Chair steps down

By Matthew Bernat
Turley Publications Reporter

STURBRIDGE - Economic Development Committee (EDC) Chairman Michael Cimini announced his resignation from that committee last week.
Cimini cited increased career responsibilities as his reason for leaving two years after former Town Administrator James Malloy asked him to serve on the then newly-formed board.
Cimini is the president of Yankee Spirits Inc., which will be expanding by adding a new store.
“It has been both challenging and rewarding to serve the Town and I have been especially favored with an excellent committee,” Cimini wrote in an e-mail to the Town Common.
Originally formed to determine how to change the town’s economic fortunes – specifically to address a number of vacancies on Route 20 - Cimini said he was proud the EDC was able to work through many of the issues currently being tackled by the Master Plan Steering Committee.
“Our work was a precursor to the Master Plan Committee and helped to shape the town’s dialogue on those issues,” he said. “We were ahead of the curve.”
In particular, he noted the all-volunteer committee’s work on identifying economic niches for Sturbridge to utilize such as light industry, eco-tourism, boutique retail and other developments in-line with the town’s character as being especially important.
“We tried to attract folks who would be interested in investing in our community,” he said.
Another reason Cimini said he is stepping down is that much of the heavy lifting is finished. It’s up to the town to implement the committee’s suggestions, such as hiring an economic development coordinator, at this time or in the future.
“Hopefully, we provided some solutions to the community once it has the resources to expand,” he said.