Economic development ideas include branding, promoting, incubating local businesses – The Hull Times

Report on the Hull Economic Development Committee’s Strategic Initiatives for Sustainable Community Growth

The Hull Economic Development Committee (EDC) convened to discuss a series of initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable economic prosperity and community well-being. The agenda focused on projects that align with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Fostering Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The committee reviewed several projects designed to support local enterprises and create a business-friendly environment, directly contributing to SDG 8 by promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

• Business Support Infrastructure:
  1. Business Guide: An update was provided on a new guide designed to streamline the permitting process for new business owners, fostering entrepreneurship (Target 8.3).
  2. Business Inventory: A comprehensive inventory of 45 local brick-and-mortar businesses has been compiled to improve communication and support for the local economic ecosystem.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: The concept of a business incubator, similar to The Collective Co. in Scituate, was discussed as a mechanism to support remote workers and home-based businesses, fostering innovation and providing shared resources (Target 8.3).
• Sustainable Tourism: The committee discussed promoting year-round events to attract visitors, thereby strengthening the local economy. This initiative supports the creation of productive employment and decent work within the community.

Developing Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

A significant portion of the discussion centered on infrastructure and planning to make the town more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, in line with SDG 11.

• Affordable Housing: The potential repurposing of the current town hall for affordable housing was proposed. This initiative directly addresses SDG Target 11.1, which aims to ensure access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing.
• Sustainable Infrastructure and Land Use:
  1. Visitor Signage: The need for improved signage to direct visitors to parking and local attractions was identified as a key step to enhance accessibility and manage visitor flow sustainably.
  2. Digital Wayfinding: The use of QR codes on kiosks was suggested as a sustainable alternative to paper maps, providing visitors with dynamic information on local businesses and attractions.

Advancing Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Climate Action (SDG 13)

The committee explored a forward-thinking project to leverage underutilized land for renewable energy generation, a critical step toward achieving SDG 7 and SDG 13.

• Landfill Solar Project: A proposal to install solar panels on the former landfill site is in an exploratory phase. This project represents a significant opportunity to:
  • Generate clean, renewable energy for the municipality or its residents (Target 7.2).
  • Reduce municipal energy costs and create a potential revenue stream.
  • Contribute to climate action by reducing the town’s carbon footprint (SDG 13).

Strengthening Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The EDC emphasized its role as an advisory body that relies on collaboration to achieve its objectives, reflecting the principles of SDG 17.

• Inter-Agency Collaboration: The committee’s plan to meet with the Select Board to present its ideas underscores a commitment to effective and transparent governance.
• Public-Private Partnerships:
  1. Marketing and Branding: A task force, created in collaboration with the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce, is developing a unified marketing and branding policy for the town.
  2. Development Engagement: The EDC plans to invite representatives from the Paragon development team to a future meeting to align on commercial space utilization within the new mixed-use project.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several local initiatives and plans by the economic development committee (EDC) that connect to multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The primary SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: This goal is relevant due to the discussion of a potential renewable energy project.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is a central theme, as the article focuses on supporting local businesses, promoting economic health, and encouraging tourism.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This goal is addressed through discussions on urban planning, infrastructure improvements like signage, and the repurposing of public buildings for community needs like affordable housing.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article highlights the collaborative efforts between different local bodies to achieve common objectives.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the initiatives described, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article mentions a “possible landfill solar project” and the idea that “you could potentially install solar panels there to reduce electric bills for the town or the townspeople.” This directly aligns with the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy.
2. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities… and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
   • The EDC’s work on a “new business guide, which will walk new business owners in town through the permitting process” and creating an “inventory of Hull businesses” are direct actions to support small and medium-sized enterprises and make the town “business-friendly.”
3. Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
   • The discussion about having “more events in town” and attracting “visitors year-round” reflects an effort to promote sustainable tourism. The development of a unified “branding and marketing” policy further supports this target.
4. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing.
   • The article explicitly states that “the idea was also suggested that the town hall could be used for affordable housing once the staff currently situated there moves.”
5. Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
   • The article notes that the “master plan – once finalized – will drive some of the EDC’s work.” This, along with planning for signage, maps, and the reuse of town hall, demonstrates a focus on integrated and sustainable settlement planning.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article describes the marketing task force as a “collaboration between the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce and the EDC.” It also details the EDC’s role as an advisory committee that works with the “select board,” showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership approach.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure progress:

• For SDG 7: The primary indicator is the potential installation of “solar panels… at the former landfill site.” Progress could be measured by the number of panels installed or the amount of clean energy generated.
• For SDG 8:
  • A quantitative indicator is the “inventory [which] includes 45 brick-and-mortar businesses,” which serves as a baseline for tracking business growth.
  • A process indicator is the creation of the “business guide” to streamline the process for new businesses.
  • Implied indicators for tourism include the number of events held and the volume of visitors attracted to the town.
• For SDG 11:
  • A direct indicator for Target 11.1 would be the number of “affordable housing” units created in the repurposed town hall.
  • Indicators for Target 11.3 include the finalization of the “master plan,” the installation of “signage directing visitors to parking lots,” and the implementation of a map system using a “QR code.”
• For SDG 17: A key indicator is the successful development of the “official town policy that provides a unified framework for Hull’s branding and marketing efforts,” which is a tangible outcome of the partnership between the EDC and the Chamber of Commerce.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hulltimes.com