New London’s economic outlook for 2026

NEW LONDON – Prior to the conclusion of 2025, the New London Economic Development Committee discussed the economic development priorities for the city of New London for 2026.
Residential development
New London City Administrator Chad Hoerth told the committee that there is “a lot going on” regarding residential development in the city.
In a Nov. 26 memo to committee members, Horth said he anticipated continued growth and strong interest in residential development in the city. SCS Wolf River is scheduled to open in the spring. In addition, the city continues to receive numerous building permit applications in London Acres, Celestial Hills, Eastridge, and Northpoint properties.
“At this point, I expect the Irish Meadow development to break ground in 2026,.” Hoerth stated in the memo.

This development would include 20 single-family parcels.
Hoerth told the committee at the meeting that the city has received a request from a developer to have the city consider changing the city’s comprehensive plan and future land use map, along with some zoning for areas along the north side of the city, east of Aldis.
“It’s good to bring more people to the community, but I just want to let you know there is a lot going on already with that,” Hoerth said.

Commercial retail
In the memo, Hoerth stated the city continues to receive interest in retail development, but that interest has slowed. He added that there are several vacant retail spaces in the city.

“The city’s investment in the downtown revitalization project significantly enhanced the appearance of our downtown district and encouraged many property owners to invest in their own buildings,” Hoerth said in the memo. “The opening of SCS Wolf River will bring an additional one to two hundred residents into the downtown district, increasing foot traffic and retail opportunities.”
“April (Kopitzke, executive director of the New London Chamber of Commerce) and I continue to communicate left and right with leads and different ideas about commercial growth,” Hoerth told the committee.

Manufacturing
Hoerth stated in the memo that the city is facing challenges regarding manufacturing. He said 95% of the inquiries the city receives are from manufacturers seeking existing space rather than vacant land for new construction.
“Evidently that’s a more cost effective and viable option for them,” Hoerth told the committee.

He added, “It’s a good thing that we don’t have a lot of vacant manufacturing spaces in town, but it’s a hinderance, it’s a challenge too, because we don’t have vacant space to bring anybody in.”

Downtown
In the memo, Hoerth stated that the city continues to explore a Pearl Street placemaking concept to increase tourism and draw visitors from the Fox Valley area.
“This aligns with numerous studies and discussions suggesting the city strengthen its connection to the river,” Hoerth said in the memo.
Ald. Tim Roberts asked Hoerth for his ideas on what the city can spend the budgeted economic development funds on.

Hoerth said the interest in 2025 in the city’s downtown façade improvement grant program was “extremely popular.” He said he has received a lot of interest from businesses who are interested in using the program in 2026 if the city renews the program.
“This year (2025) was the highest year ever that we’ve had for the downtown façade improvement grants, and it shows,” Hoerth said. “I mean, you go through the downtown, it showed this year. This is the first year that I really saw a big difference in that investment.”

Food pantries
Earlier in the meeting New London Mayor Mark Herter told the committee that some in the community asked how the city helps residents in need. He said he was asked if funds from the downtown façade program could be used for residents in need.
“I’m just bringing their idea to the board of redirecting some façade grants to helping the general public that is less fortunate,” Herter said.

Kopitzke said the façade program is one of the few programs the city has to support its businesses.
“That’s the one thing that we’re able to offer to our commercial downtown (businesses),” Kopitzke said. “I think it’s important to look at that aspect, but I would hate to take away those funds away from our businesses.”
When asked how much support the city provides to area food pantries, Hoerth said “very little.” He said the city’s budget does not provide “direct support” for any of the area food pantries.
“The city was quasi involved with the food pantry that was located at the Washington Center at one point in time,” Hoerth said. “Since then, that’s been an external group that has taken that on and blossomed that program since then. Other than that, there’s no funding that we have. We’re struggling enough as it is with programs and equipment that we have.”
Ginger Sowle, director of Parks & Recreation for the city of New London, said she was the director who took over the food pantry at the Washington Center, but she was eventually directed by the New London Common Council to relinquish that role to the Washington Center.
“It was kind of the thought that taxpayers are not paying their taxes to help out the community in that way,” Sowle said. “It was more like let’s let those groups and nonprofit groups do that work because that’s what they’re good at and let the city do their business of supporting everyone in the community and not just individual people.”