Palmer puts future in focus

PALMER — Maybe you’re a business owner worried about the city’s future. Or maybe you’re just someone who likes a vibrant merchant sector. Either way, the city wants to hear from you Monday.

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Palmer’s Board of Economic Development will meet at the downtown train depot to discuss the eight goals it has laid out for the city.

Those goals range from keeping institutions — government bodies and the like — headquartered in Palmer to promoting agriculture and education and making sure housing is available for all sectors of the housing market.

“They and the city council would really like the public to see the document, to comment on the document, so that those ideas can be incorporated into the final document,” said Sandra Garley, the city’s economic development director.

Garley said six of the eight goals came out of the city’s comprehensive plan, but the board has added action items to each goal. Those goals include things like working to ensure the borough keeps its headquarters in the city, but also things like holding an annual conference of local businesses and making a plan for a mass-transit system in the city.

Attendees at Monday’s forum will be able to talk to the board. Each member has taken on a goal to speak about and will have his or her own table set up around the room.

Anyone who wants to get a head start reading about the various goals and objectives can download a draft copy of the economic development strategy from the city’s website, cityofpalmer.org.

Garley said the board will take the public’s comments into account before presenting a strategy to city council. People will also be able to take comment sheets home to mull it all over or submit comments at the city’s website, though that online option won’t be available until after the meeting.

She said she doesn’t know of the city holding a meeting like this before that was focused squarely on economic development. She’s hoping there will be interest.

“I think anybody that’s in business or thinking about a business in the Palmer area might be interested in this,” Garley said. “The kind of businesses that might be coming to Palmer, they should be here, too, to comment on what they like or don’t like about the steps or the actual goals.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.