Networking Golf Tournament Turnout a Positive Sign for Economic Development

When Economic Development Director Louis Perillo began working with the Southington Chamber of Commerce and town officials to plan the first-ever networking golf tournament, he wasn’t sure who would show up.

Perillo couldn’t have been happier with the way things turned out.

“We didn’t just have a few people here, we had a number of brokers, developers and key players,” Perillo said. “It shows that a commitment to development will allow us to continue to grow our economic base in Southington.”

There were 45 people in attendance for the morning breakfast and golf tournament Wednesday morning at Pine Valley Country Club including representatives from 22 businesses in the community representing brokers, developers, banks and service providers.

The networking event is one of several steps Southington has taken to continue to improve the local economy and remain in strong fiscal condition despite the recession other towns across the nation have battled, Perillo said.

Wednesday’s event provided the town a chance to highlight growing developments over the past couple years, which include Liberty Centre at 31 Liberty St. and the Calabrese Agency sale and developments of Shop-Rite and Dunkin Donuts.

“Economic Development has been the focus of this council from the start of our term,” said Town Council Chairman Edward Pocock III. “We knew that continuing to improve would be the key to success.”

The efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

Tom Morano of Northeast Utilities, one of the attendees at the event, praised the efforts Southington has made and said that of the 149 towns he has worked with in Connecticut, Southington ranks among the top five in economic development.

Morano chose Southington’s golf tournament over five others in the area that were also taking place on Wednesday.

After the success that the town had in the inaugural event, Perillo said organizers would evaluate the success and determine whether to make the tournament an annual event.

“It’s a small cost to have if it ends up a benefit for the town,” Perillo said. “If this doesn’t spark development, we will continue to look to other ways to grow our tax base.”