The mission of the Fairhaven Economic Development Committee is to provide the Select Board with guidance on the enhancement of the existing business community, ways to attract new business and encourage development. The result of programs, from this guidance, will have a goal to enhance overall economic impact. These programs will result in a growth in business activity, jobs and revenue. The Select Board acknowledges that a strong business community is essential to the financial well being of the Town.
The membership shall consist of shall consist of five (5) at-large members with ties and experience in Fairhaven, to be appointed by the Select Board; one (1) voting representative member from the Select Board; and one voting representative from the Planning Board, to be appointed by the Planning Board. Two (2) Alternate Non- Voting members, appointed by the Select Board. In the event that there is no quorum of the 7 full voting members, alternate members may act as voting members for the purposes of quorum for that meeting. The alternate member(s) will be chosen by seniority in service as alternate members on the committee. The Planning and Economic Development Director shall serve as non-voting ex-officio staff member.
All terms shall be one year terms.
From March 1, 2024 to April 22, 2024, the Economic Development Committee hosted a survey to ask Fairhaven residents about what types of new businesses they would like to see in our Town, allowing each survey taker to give up to three suggestions. We were delighted when 508 people took the survey, giving us 1306 responses in total. Everyone who participated in the survey has our thanks.
Since the close of the survey, our staff has drafted a report that breaks down the responses into seven categories and includes not only the types of businesses but also any specific brands. A collection of comments is also included in the report. The full report is linked below and here is a quick overview of the responses:
| EDC Business Survey Results by Category | ||
|---|---|---|
| count | percentage | |
| Grocery | 450 | 34.46% |
| Retail | 354 | 27.11% |
| Restaurant | 269 | 20.60% |
| Entertainment | 93 | 7.12% |
| Comments | 59 | 4.52% |
| Miscellaneous | 44 | 3.37% |
| Recreation | 37 | 2.83% |
| Total Entries | 1306 | |
We are providing this information not only to the residents of our Town but also to anyone who may be considering starting a business here in Fairhaven.
If you have further interest in starting a business, please contact discoverfairhaven@fairhaven-ma.gov with the subject line: New Business.
You can also explore our businesses resource pages for more information: Starting a Business in Fairhaven and Business Support.
Both our Planning Board and our Economic Development Committee seek to support our community and our business owners and we welcome a conversation with you!
EDC BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS – FULL PDF REPORT
The Fairhaven Economic Development Committee (EDC) has created a New Business Presentation to serve as a powerful tool for anyone looking to invest in or grow a business in Fairhaven.
This presentation includes key data points, community insights, and development trends that highlight why Fairhaven is a smart place to do business. Whether you’re a local entrepreneur, a commercial real estate agent, or an outside investor, the information provided can help you better understand Fairhaven’s market potential, demographics, and available opportunities.
The New Business Presentation is designed to:
- Showcase Fairhaven’s strategic location, workforce, and quality of life
- Offer data on population, income levels, traffic counts, and business clusters
- Help realtors, site selectors, and developers market Fairhaven to prospective businesses
- Support existing business owners and local advocates in attracting complementary services to the area
If you’re considering launching or expanding a business in Fairhaven, the EDC’s presentation is a great place to start!