News

CT creates new workforce training entity

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

awmakers have seeded a newly created workforce fund with $1 million, and created a new board within the Department of Labor (DOL) to dole out grants for worker training. H.B. 5001, which received final approval from the House and Senate on Wednesday, establishes the Workforce Training Authority and the Workforce Training Authority Fund. Click here for the full article

CT sees ports as major economic drivers

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Click here for a Q & A with Scott Bates, former chairman of the Connecticut Port Authority, about the growing role of the state’s maritime industry.

History Revisited: Twin submarine launchings are unforgettable events

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Throughout the years, among the most newsworthy events to occur in New England were the launchings, also referred to as christenings, of submarines at the Electric Boat Corporation. A launching (or christening) ceremony is the formal custom for dedicating, naming and committing to sea a new ship. It is a means of bringing good luck to a new ship and all of those who sail on it. The history of launching ceremonies can be traced back thousands of years and, in times past, they were more barbaric than they are today. For instance, the Vikings reportedly provided a human sacrifice during boat...

Hearing Wednesday on first update of Groton Town zoning regulations in 30 years

Monday, June 17, 2019

Groton — After an 18-month-long effort to update the town's zoning regulations and zoning map, the town Zoning Commission will host a public hearing Wednesday to seek input from residents on drafts of the updated regulations and map. The project represents the first major update to the regulations in about three decades. The zoning rewrite is intended "to guide the type of high-quality, vibrant, and sustainable development prescribed by the Town's 2016 Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), and to make the regulations themselves clear, precise and easy to read and understand," according to a news release from the town. Click here for the full article

Pfizer marking 60 years of R&D in Groton

Monday, June 10, 2019

Founded in Brooklyn, N.Y., Pfizer Inc. was 110 years old when it consolidated its medical research laboratory operations here in 1959. In the 60 years since, the Groton site has had a hand in the discovery and development of such medicines as Zoloft and Zithromax and, more recently, Xalkori and Xeljanz. Today, nearly everything Pfizer produces is developed at its 160-acre complex on Eastern Point Road, where more than 2,600 people work in 2.8 million square feet of space. Pfizer Groton has been observing the anniversary amid little fanfare. Click here for the full article

MW Coastal Goods is a Local Groton Gem!

Friday, June 07, 2019

For Mike and Wendy Hille life has taken some interesting turns to lead them to their dream business. Currently located dockside in the Noank region of Groton, Connecticut, this business has become a local favorite. But interestingly enough, this serene dockside business started out as a simple idea between the two. According to his wife, Wendy, Mike Hille has a talent for manufacturing, making furniture, and other artisan work. Being an avid fisherman, Mike had the idea to handcraft his own fishing lures. Wendy then had the idea to turn them into bottle openers and in 2012, MW Coastal Goods...

Quality of Life is Back

Thursday, June 06, 2019

In today's world, multi-family development and residential housing options across the United States are becoming as important in the corporate site selection process as workforce availability and incentives. There was a period in time when multi-family communal area amenities may have consisted of a small fitness center, a laundry room, and maybe a pool; and that would've been sufficient for prospective tenants. This is no longer the case in 2019. To attract prospective tenants (which will mostly consist of members from the millennial and baby-boomer generations) to market rate residential options, developers are having to design projects with resident communal expectations in...

Business event highlights school redevelopment, culinary tourism, manufacturing

Monday, June 03, 2019

In the annual Groton business update, a planning director, a restaurateur and a politician touched on efforts to get those working in Groton to live in Groton, redevelopment of shuttered schools, culinary tourism, attracting manufacturing talent and preservation of Long Island Sound. Groton Director of Planning Jonathan Reiner, restaurateur Dan Meiser and U.S. Sen Chris Murphy, D-Conn., spoke at the breakfast the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce held Friday at the Mystic Marriott. Click here for the full article

The State of Tourism

Monday, June 03, 2019

If anyone has doubts as to the impact of tourism on the Connecticut economy, they may be assuaged by the impressive numbers* presented at the Connecticut Conference on Tourism: $2.2 billion in tax revenue, including $960 million in state and local taxes 84,254 jobs directly related to tourism; 123,521 total jobs when including support activities $15.5 billion in total business sales, a 5.5% increase since the last study (2015) 6.7% increase in traveler spending over 2015, up 12.2% over the past 5 years Tourism is Connecticut’s 8th largest employer and may boast 7 years of consecutive growth To an audience of professionals who work across the state in...

Study: CT beer industry generates $3.1B economic impact

Saturday, June 01, 2019

Connecticut’s beer industry continues to be a major boon to the state’s economy, according to a new study. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute said it conducted a joint study that shows Connecticut’s beer industry contributes $3.1 billion annually to the state’s economy. That represents a major increase compared to the $745.7 million economic impact the industry generated in 2017, according to estimates provided by the Brewers Association, which represents two-thirds of breweries in Connecticut. Read full article.

Electric Boat Receives Half-Billion-Dollar Award To Help Submarine Suppliers Expand

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

The Navy awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat nearly half a billion dollars to help shore up its submarine supplier base through equipment purchases and plant expansions. The Department of Defense 2019 Appropriations Act included this money, aimed at addressing the health of the companies that supply Electric Boat with components and the lower-tier companies that supply the suppliers, according to the Navy. The $497-million award is a modification of an existing contract for Electric Boat to build the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), the Navy announced Monday evening. Click here for the full article

Airport agency official: Time for Groton commercial service to take off

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

The Connecticut Airport Authority plans to sponsor a meeting with major businesses in the area, as it moves to step up efforts to restore commercial passenger service to the Groton-New London Airport, the head of the authority's board of directors said. CAA board of directors Chairman Tony Sheridan, also the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, said that with the growing economy, including the uptick in hiring at Electric Boat, plans for a Coast Guard museum, and a recently announced offshore wind deal, now is the time for the airport authority to ramp up its efforts. Click...

From school to startup: Groton Heights project edges forward

Thursday, May 16, 2019

The more-than-a-century-old former Groton Heights School is on track to be redeveloped as a new space for a growing company in the maritime high-tech industry. With marine technology firm ThayerMahan announced in March as the "preferred developer" for the former school property owned by the town, the project now is moving into the implementation phase, said Paige Bronk, economic and community development manager for the Town of Groton.\ Click here for the full article

The Best States for New College Graduates To Start a Life

Monday, May 13, 2019

For recent grads, some states are better than others. Graduating from college initiates a time of great change. Finding a job and starting a new life postgraduate represents a big step into adulthood. It’s also significantly more or less difficult depending on where you live. That’s because being aware of the best places to live after college can make figuring out where to find a job, affording an apartment and even where to buy your first home that much easier. That’s why GOBankingRates conducted a study to look at all the different potential factors that might impact that decision, including the cost of rent,...

12 entrepreneurial projects pitched for CTNext funding

Thursday, May 02, 2019

Groton — With visions of a co-working and incubator space in New London, a resource to help high-school students find job shadows, art and events in Hodges Square, a farm to re-integrate veterans into the workforce, and a private "micro-school," 12 people are making the case for why their 12 projects should get a share of public-private funding that will likely be under $1 million. CTNext, a public-private network that supports entrepreneurs, is entering the third year of funding for its four designated Innovation Places: New Haven, Hartford/East Hartford, Stamford and Thames River. Read full article.

CT manufacturing wage growth outpaces most other industries

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Connecticut manufacturers are full of anecdotes about how they use higher-than-average starting wages to attract and retain younger talent, to replace experienced and aging workers they lose to competitors and retirement. Now, the state Department of Labor has accumulated and analyzed salary data for thousands of manufacturing workers in the state and compared it to pay for all other industries combined. Not surprisingly, the Connecticut wage data amassed by the U.S. Census Bureau and shared with DOL economists show the state's manufacturing workers in the last 10 years, from Dec. 2007 to Dec. 2017 (the latest available data), saw their average monthly...

Starting a New Business [Online Course]

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

This course provides the advice and strategies of some leading entrepreneurs concerning what it really takes to start a new venture. This course will show you how to protect your ideas, how to hire employees and how to find out what licenses and regulations may apply. It also provides more than 50 free information resources that are available to you in making your new business a reality. 192 Animated Slides – Approximately 3.0 Hours (You can stop a course and restart from that point by bookmarking it.) Cost: Free Location: Online Date and Time: At your convenience Learn more and register here.

The 20 Best Places to Go in 2019

Monday, April 01, 2019

We analyzed 43,706 data points to find vacations that provide the best value. Paying for your dream vacation doesn’t need to be a nightmare — and MONEY’s 2019 Best in Travel guide is proof. From dramatic beaches and ski-friendly mountains to lively cities and seaside towns, the 20 destinations that make up our annual list are mindful of both your wanderlust and your wallet. For the fourth year, MONEY is highlighting domestic and international locations that offer the best value for you right now. Our winners, distributed around the globe, are full of activities and amenities that make vacations memorable—at price points...

Report: Connecticut is one of the most educated states

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

People in Connecticut go to school. And not just that, they are some of the most educated people in the United States––this, according to a study by WalletHub. The site ranked all 50 states by how educated each one is. Connecticut comes in at number four on the list. The two main criteria in the study were: Educational Attainment (percentage of population with some sort of degree) and Quality of Education (quality of schools, graduation rates, test scores etc.). Read full article.

Brewing Up the Perfect Beer

Friday, January 18, 2019

Outer Light Brewing Company celebrating 4th anniversary with new custom drink It’s testing and tasting season at the Outer Light Brewing Company! The young business, which is about to celebrate four years in Groton, has celebrated each anniversary by debuting a brand new beverage. Co-founder Tom Drejer describes the process as part science and part art form. “It’s like being a chef. At Outer Light Brewing, we all have an understanding of how certain flavors and ingredients blend together. We use that experience and knowledge to figure out how to brew the best-tasting beer possible. You also have to work within the...

New training programs aim to match Connecticut manufacturers with workers

Friday, January 11, 2019

With thousands of manufacturing jobs to fill in Connecticut now and in the future, and not enough qualified workers to fill them, industry employers, state community colleges and job training agencies are trying to fill the employment pipeline. Gateway Community College and the New Haven-based Workforce Alliance are about to launch a program that would take unemployed and under-employed workers, provide them with an intensive five-week training course and then help them find jobs. The first five-week session of classes is scheduled to start in February and with a Dec. 7 registration deadline, about 35 people have put in applications, said...

Groton Family Farm to host day of music, hopes people take interest in project

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Groton — The Groton Family Farm is welcoming people to enjoy a daylong lineup of musical performances, from the electric ukulele to beatboxing to a swing band, on Friday for Make Music Day, part of the owner's efforts to make the property a community asset. Warren Burrows, who farmed the 6.5-acre, family-owned property at 70 Fort Hill Road until he moved to Seattle in 2016, said he hopes people will relax and enjoy themselves on Friday at the Make Music Day event that Groton Family Farm is hosting for the town. Click here for the full article

Reiner Aims to Set the Table

Monday, June 10, 2019

With thousands of hires expected at Electric Boat in the coming decade, Jon Reiner, Director of Planning and Development for the Town of Groton, describes his work as “setting the table” for investment in housing, business opportunities and redevelopment of older buildings and neighborhoods. Reiner, who was hired by the town in 2014, said his focus has been on finding out what Groton residents want and shaping the town’s future through marketing and zoning tools that attract the right kind of investment. Click here for the full article

At ‘matchmaking’ event, suppliers seek to get in on submarine boom

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Facing a 250 percent increase in its workload over the next 20 years as the demand for submarines grows, Electric Boat is seeking to triple the size of its supply base in the next three years alone. While the company has created a team internally to identify and develop new suppliers, it also is relying on outside help — such as events like the daylong conference held Wednesday at the Mystic Marriott, which attracted more than 250 companies from 11 states. Click here for the full article

DECD Commissioner David Lehman airs his early plans to jumpstart CT’s economy

Friday, May 24, 2019

David Lehman, Connecticut’s newest economic-development commissioner, sees himself as a life-long learner. Two books on the credenza in his upper-floor downtown Hartford office overlooking the Connecticut River — “Industries of the Future,” by Alex Ross; and “The New Urban Crisis,” by Richard Florida — speak volumes about the crossroads in the Greenwich resident’s life and career. They also hint at where the former Wall Street banker will look for solutions to Connecticut’s decade-long, sluggish economy as well as new opportunities for innovation and job creation. Click here for the full article

Learning about subs in Groton

Monday, May 20, 2019

Groton — Students from Griswold Middle School were visiting the Submarine Force Library and Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus during a field trip. Read full article.

Officials Hopeful For Development Progress On Connecticut’s 72 ‘Opportunity Zone’ Sites

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Development officials in Connecticut say they are expecting to be making substantial progress by the end of 2019 in marketing the state’s 72 federally designated Opportunity Zone sites. The IRS recently released an updated set of regulations for investors in Opportunity Zone sites that clarify procedures under a tax benefit program established by the White House in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program is designed to encourage private investment in lower-income areas around the country. Connecticut has Opportunity Zone sites in 27 towns from the largest cities like Hartford, New Have, and Waterbury to mid-sized and small communities...

CT Ranks 3rd Among States for Working Mothers, Analysis Finds

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The best place to be for working mothers is the Northeast, as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont took the top four rankings in a new analysis. Connecticut, which placed third, in the overall rankings, made the top 10 in all three categories, ranking 3rd in Child Care, 5th in Work-Life Balance, and 10th in Professional Opportunities. The state was one of only three to earn top-10 rankings in all three. The analysis, by the financial website WalletHub, compared state dynamics across 16 key metrics – grouped into the three categories - to identify the Best & Worst States for Working Moms. Read...

After 25 years, creative director of Arts Cafe Mystic steps down

Monday, May 13, 2019

Quote Christie Max Williams: "Nevermore!" After 25 star-limned years as the creative director of the Arts Cafe Mystic, Williams was scheduled to announce his retirement from the nationally renowned literature and music series Friday after the season finale program. Lisa Starr, the Emerita State Poet Laureate of Rhode Island who has appeared regularly at the Cafe, will succeed Williams. Click here for the full article

Exploring a new state park in Groton

Thursday, May 09, 2019

One particularly appealing aspect of our corner of the state is the rich variety of so many natural attractions, all in relatively close proximity. Within a 20-mile radius, we have Bluff Point Coastal Reserve in Groton, where a hiking/biking trail leads to an overlook with a stunning view of Fishers Island Sound; Waterford’s Harkness Memorial State Park, with elegant gardens, Renaissance revival mansion and sprawling lawn at the edge of Long Island Sound; East Lyme’s Rocky Neck, offering scenic paths, camping and saltwater swimming; and Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, which contains secluded ponds, dense evergreen forests, tumbling streams and towering...

Money for pier replacement at sub base advances in Congress

Thursday, May 09, 2019

The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a $228 billion budget plan to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs and various military construction projects in fiscal year 2020 that includes $72.3 million for the replacement of a pier at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. The funding was announced in a news release from the office of U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District. Click here for the full article

Governor Lamont: Lehman’s Role and Experience Will Allow a Comprehensive Look at Economic Development

Thursday, May 02, 2019

Released by Governor Lamont's office March 27, 2019 (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont released the following statement following the confirmation in the State Senate of David Lehman as the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, in addition to his role as the administration’s senior economic advisor: “I applaud the State Senate’s bipartisan support and confirmation of my administration’s nominee, David Lehman, as the commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. Today’s vote was a critical step towards our aggressive commitment to growing Connecticut’s economy – through strategic policies and programs in support of all facets of our...

Marketing Ourselves to Businesses

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Recently the Hartford Business Journal discussed tourism in Connecticut and the potential need to rebrand the state—again. This has caused many to question the sizable investment in repeated branding efforts and the return on those investments. As we think about how Connecticut brands itself in the tourism industry, we also must think about how we market ourselves to businesses. Active engagement with site selectors and active pursuit of companies is critical to growing as a state. As we have these opportunities, we are able to share Connecticut’s value proposition. My colleague Erron and I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Site Selectors...

Women from Pfizer, Sonalysts honored for innovation and mentorship

Friday, April 26, 2019

Four employees of Pfizer and one of Sonalysts are among the 50 people whose mentoring of others, leadership and innovation have gotten them named as finalists for the 15th Annual Women of Innovation awards, a program of the Connecticut Technology Council. There were 190 nominations this year. A winner in each of 11 categories will be announced at a gala at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on March 27. The keynote speaker for the event is Annie Lamont, health care venture capitalist and first lady of Connecticut. Three of the 10 finalists in the large business innovation and leadership category — for those...

The Socioeconomic Levers Available to Towns in Driving their Local Economies

Monday, April 22, 2019

Emmy Award winning David Bibbey of Connecticut Means Business interviews CERC’s President and CEO Bob Santy - providing an insightful overview of the resource that CERC is for towns and businesses. Bob’s unique experience and CERCs 25 years of data affords a powerful perspective of the socioeconomic levers available to towns in driving their local economies, “If the town is not controlling their story [about their economic development], then someone else is.” Watch here.

WorkinCT #CTConfident: ‘Skill Up for Manufacturing’ looks to quickly train people for jobs in manufacturing

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

For Elyse Maldonado, her goal is a career in manufacturing. After seeing her dad and other family members work in the business, she wanted a job that was hands-on. “I just wanted to pursue my career and find something that I really wanted to do,” said Maldonado. Dacien Jones spent several years in carpentry, but found himself in jobs that weren’t stable. “This is a fresh start. It’s nothing to do with carpentry for the most part, so it’s refreshing,” said Jones. Both Maldonado and Jones are now part of Skill Up for Manufacturing. It’s a free five-week program managed by the Workforce Alliance of...

A peek into Lamont's economic-development playbook

Friday, February 15, 2019

For those interested in learning about Gov. Ned Lamont's economic-development vision, he offered a sneak peek Feb. 1, airing plans to restructure — to some degree — the Department of Economic and Community Development and appoint a Goldman Sachs executive to be the state's first unofficial commerce secretary. But his overall strategy and the details of it may have been hiding in plain sight for weeks, or longer. Read full article.

Economic Development is Collaborative Beyond All Else

Friday, February 08, 2019

Read full article.