If you don't know Melissa Ziobron here in East Haddam, you might want to get to know her especially if you're a business owner of any kind. She's got a tough job as the lead person on East Haddam's Economic Development Committee. She works tirelessly to help business owners clear hurdles, find space, and the like to make their business happen. Business of all kinds benefit our town on a multitude of levels: they pay taxes, provide jobs, and some bring in customers to town who'd have no reason to visit that may spend their dollars elsewhere. 

 

The benefits are obvious however town commissions and some of the ordinances they rigidly enforce create obstacles that sometime send businesses to other towns that are more business friendly. Melissa personifies pro-business so seeking her help is wise.

 

Melissa Ziobron the gal on the go... 

 

I've gotten to know Melissa over the past few years and she seems to be everywhere. I love her broad smile and upbeat attitude on life and our town. She's a fantastic woman on all levels. She's been instrumental in helping my wife's business, CT Farm Fresh Express relocate from a home based business to temporary quarters in the industrial park in a space owned by Parady and Sons, who treated her very well, to her permanent location on 24 Mt. Parnassus Road owned by none other than Bob Casner. Bob too has been great to work with and has done a very nice job readying the location for her business. The bottom line is that none of this would have been possible without Melissa's tireless efforts.

 

Deb Marsden in front of her new location for CT Farm Fresh Express on 24 Mt. Parnassus Road. 

 

Melissa was born in 1971 and lived here with her family until she was 4. Her family relocated to East Hampton for a while but came back to East Haddam a short time later so she's been here from her school years to the present. She's been married to Scott Ziobon, her husband of 16 years, and together raise their 2 children, Brittany (15) and Bryan (11). 

 

Ernie & Cindy Piatti, owners of the Hilltop BBQ & Steakhouse are grateful for the support and guidance that Melissa gave them in getting their great restaurant open.

 

She had aspirations to be first selectman in 2005 but sadly lost. That failure taught her a lot about communication and the frustration of party politics. She also learned how to really see an issue from both sides and how to build bridges and foster compromise that works. That knowledge has made her a great asset to the EDC and our community. 

 

Melissa assisted Marcy Vitigliano's new Morning Glories Foral Design in coming to town from Norwich.

 

In 2007 she took the position at the EDC instead of putting her family through another race for the 1st selectman's post because she thought she could do more for the town in this capacity. I have to agree. She knows how to surround herself with individuals that possess talents and attributes to complement hers and it shows in how much she gets done on the short 14 hours a week the town pays her to do this most critical function. In my opinion they should pay her for a full week and reduce hours in a less important function in town government. But that makes too much sense. (Sorry for my cynical comments about government and the moronic decisions that are constantly made at all levels of government. I don't think I'll get much blow back on that comment, but then again...)

 

Long blogs aren't good so I don't want to go into too much detail on the tax incentives that are in place for both new and existing businesses. Melissa tole me that there are breaks for home based to larger businesses, that will make East Haddam look more attractive to new business and existing businesses alike.  Melissa told me that a business that invests $3m will be awarded an 80% tax abatement over 7 years! She tells me a $25K to 150K investment will get that business a 50% tax abatement for 2 years. There's more for home based business and the like so I encourage you to call her for details. She told me that full details would be on her EDC page within the new town website soon. 

 

One things for sure: To know Melissa is to love her. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious. You'll leave her feeling better than when you arrived to talk to her. 

 

As I left her from our meeting I asked her what she saw as the biggest problem we have in our democracy both here and elsewhere and her reply was spot on from my perspective: Getting credit for the idea overrides the true merit and benefit of the law or policy itself. We see it constantly: Not your idea? Then it's bad. With both sides doing it all the time, we the people get sold short each and every time. So laws that would be really beneficial don't get passed and the ones that do get passed help the wrong people or are just plain stupid and ineffective. Let's just leave it there. 

 

To contact Melissa call (860) 227-3411 or email her mzlighthouse@comcast.net