Economic Development Accountability & Business Retention

Business retention before recruitment

During her 2023 EDA service, Suzanne emphasized direct relationships with businesses already operating in East Bethel and participated in work to refresh the City’s Business Retention & Expansion program. She suggested practical outreach methods including Chamber events, direct mail, and remote participation to reach more employers.

Broadband as economic infrastructure

During discussion of a Border-to-Border broadband grant, she asked how many East Bethel neighborhoods were still underserved and pressed for a clearer understanding of where reliable service remained unavailable.

What the City receives for outside economic-development spending

In November 2023, Suzanne asked what the City was receiving for its regional economic-development agreement and what the arrangement cost. After staff described the regional representation, she said promoting and marketing East Bethel was useful but wanted to understand the value because the agreement was not included in her materials.

Questioning the EDA’s own effectiveness

At a February 2025 Council work meeting, Suzanne drew on her prior EDA service and said she had not seen enough work that justified the Board’s time. She supported transitioning EDA seats toward elected Council members, while other officials argued for retaining resident participation. The Council later continued working through the EDA structure, and Suzanne returned as a Council-appointed EDA member; in January 2026 the EDA elected her vice president.