Economic development in Bristol was a key initiative for many, if not all, candidates in this year’s election. But while the campaign promises were being made, two of the town’s major businesses slipped away, leaving a gap in the economic health of the town.

In the summer of 2015, the town will lose Bristol Toyota, a Metacom Avenue landmark that has attracted customers into Bristol while adding to the tax base. The car dealer's decision to leave town with its approximately 30 employees was a corporate one, favoring a heavier traveled location in nearby Massachusetts, said Town Administrator Tony Teixeira.

“Even if we tried to be creative and find space, their decision was made,” Mr. Teixeira said.

More recently, another major business, George Patton Associates, Inc., whose subsidiaries include Displays2Go, a producer of business-to-business point of sale displays used in retail stores, is in the process of moving its production and distribution warehouse from Broad Common Road to Fall River.

“That was a little surprise to all of us,” Mr. Teixeira said.

When town officials heard the $23 million company was planning to relocate its operations and its 180 employees out of Bristol, town representatives reached out to them. But neither Mike Byrnes, of Explore Bristol, nor former Economic Development Commission Chairman Ethan Tucker could convince the corporate-owned business to stay.

“They want to increase productivity,” Mr. Teixeira said, which calls for a building expansion, as well as additional parking spaces for employees. “There’s not a suitable lot for expansion in that area."

Part of the blame, said Mr. Teixeira, falls on the town.

“There’s a possibility we could have worked something out. There’s a few things that could have been done,” he said.

He sees the loss of these major businesses as a wake-up call for the town to be more proactive in opening lines of communications with the companies in town.

“We need a plan of action and be in the loop with what’s going on,” he said. “Unfortunately, if someone doesn’t come to us you just don’t know what their plans are. It’s very unfortunate.”

Mr. Teixeira said that situations like this are addressed in the town’s comprehensive plan. Part of that plan calls for hiring an economic development director and taking an inventory of commercial space available.

Another part of that plan, he said, is to reach out to businesses currently in town.

“We need to connect with the businesses and ask what we can do” to help them,” Mr. Teixeira said.

According to the town’s tax assessor, Chris Belaire, Bristol Toyota pays less than $1,700 a year in tangible taxes. Neither the auto dealership nor George Patton Associates, which is listed as a manufacturing for its industry type, are taxed for their inventory. Both properties will still be subject to real estate taxes.

“The real loss,” she said, “is losing the employees they bring into town.”