‘Norwich officials welcomed being restored to the Distressed Municipalities List …”

There is something wrong with that perspective, contained in a recent story on Norwich’s return to the list of the state’s top 25 distressed municipalities, compiled by the state Department of Economic Community Development.

The positive reaction of Norwich officials is understandable. Getting on the list qualifies a community for more economic aid from the state. Communities on the list get higher priority when it comes to obtaining grants for environmental remediation of potential redevelopment sites and for infrastructure projects. Distressed communities using property tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment to attract business qualify for a 50 percent reimbursement of lost revenue.

Norwich had shown just enough economic statistical improvement from 2012-2014 to exit the list, but in the overall scheme of things, not much had changed, except the ability to land some grants. If you are going to be that close to distressed, seems to go the thinking, one might as well make the list.

It is the municipal equivalent of someone unhappy with a small raise because it means losing eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps).

It would be a better strategy to continue eligibility for economic assistance when a community comes off the list, perhaps for several years, with benefits gradually decreasing thereafter. The goal, it would seem, should be to help towns and cities achieve solid economic footing, not eliminate eligibility as soon as a community is categorized as slightly less distressed.

The state development agency considers employment, job growth, the age of the housing stock, education and income levels, poverty rates and other economic criteria in putting together the top 25 distressed communities list. In another change, Montville dropped off the list. New London and Preston remain on it. Groton left the list a year ago.

While it makes sense to target the state’s most economically distressed municipalities for special attention and help, elected leaders should not lose sight of the bigger challenge of improving the overall business climate of the state, which by most every measure ranks poorly. Until that gets more serious attention, it will not make a big difference which communities bounce on and off the Distressed Municipalities List year to year.