Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Agency Joins E.D.D.I.
08/31/2006
Contacts:
Kristi Sullivan, CERC, 860-571-6213
Peter Dorpalen, 203-757-0535
The Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley (COGCNV), representing 13 towns in the greater Waterbury region, has joined the E.D.D.I. (Economic Development Data and Information) network, an online searchable database of economic and demographic information for all of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and its metro areas, regions, and towns. Site selectors and expanding companies who need data to make business location decisions can now research and learn about Connecticut's central Naugatuck Valley easily and online.
COGCNV is a planning organization concerned with economic development, land use, water planning and transportation needs of the central Naugatuck Valley region. It sets regional priorities for a variety of federal and state funding programs, oversees regional programs for member municipalities, and provides technical assistance to municipalities, local organizations, and the general public. The 13 COGCNV towns include Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Prospect, Naugatuck, Oxford, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury (view COGCNV's data).
E.D.D.I. is based on a web database called LOIS - Location One Information System - which also houses data and information web sites for states such as Iowa, Missouri and others. Since its launch in April 2005, Connecticut's E.D.D.I. has consistently ranked in LOIS's top four most visited states.
COGCNV joins the Regional Growth Partnership in New Haven and the MetroHartford Alliance as state regional organizations that offer localized knowledge about their towns through E.D.D.I. The database is compliant with International Economic Development Council standards, meaning that the database contains the pertinent information site selectors require when making location decisions.
"The biggest benefit of joining E.D.D.I. is that Waterbury and surrounding towns will be gaining national exposure," said Peter Dorpalen, executive director of COGCNV. "As people learn about the availability of this new online data, they will become more familiar with the quality of our region and towns and the benefits of relocating or expanding here."
The Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) is a nonprofit company specializing in economic development and marketing for local, regional, state and utility economic development entities. Funded by 10 of the state's utility and telecommunications companies in partnership with state government, CERC also markets the state as a competitive business location. To access E.D.D.I., visit www.cerc.com/eddi.
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