Public hearings seeking input on planning, economic development and "all socioeconomic aspects of the community," will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Legislative Conference Room on St. Thomas; at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 in Frederiksted on St. Croix, in the Legislative Conference Room; and at 7 p.m. on Oct. 25 in Christiansted at the Florence William Public Library conference room.
The hearings are called by the Governor's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee and will help direct millions of dollars in grants from the U.S. Economic Development Authority, an arm of the Commerce Department.
According to Lauritz Mills, acting Director of the Bureau of Economic Research, "One of the requirements for continued funding from the authority is that there must be a comprehensive economic plan for the territory." In putting together such a plan, the first since 1992, she said, "we're required to conduct four public hearings for residents to voice concerns and tell us what direction we should be heading, how things have changed in the area and what kind of planning is needed."
About half a dozen residents showed up at a St. John meeting Wednesday, even though Mills said the hearing was advertised on radio, in the newspapers and on community bulletin boards. Still, some residents complained that a lack of advance publicity for the hearing led to its being poorly attended.
For more information, call 714-1700.