Jobs For Connecticut Now

Today, Jobs for New England Now posted its Core Principles Needed to Make New England a More Attractive Place for Jobs and Business.  The document outlines three fundamental principles for creating an environment that is attractive to business and conducive to creating jobs: competition, innovation and investment.  Policymakers should strive to make these principles a reality in the New England region, to encourage economic growth and increased employment.

Competition is the key to allowing residents to receive the highest quality services at the best rates.  Competition also makes companies work harder to attract new business and improve the effectiveness and quality of their products in order to gain more customers.   Before new businesses will open their doors in New England, they need to be assured that they can succeed in an environment that rewards that competition, and does not penalize it with additional tax burdens and restrictions.

Innovation will help make New England more appealing for new and existing businesses.  Policymakers should be providing incentives for new businesses to launch new products and services to consumers, as well as providing incentives for companies to develop these products.  We should also be finding creative ways to inspire businesses to improve environmental efficiencies and reward those who are making efforts to utilize green technologies that can preserve New England and the earth for future generations. 

Finally, investment is the key to economic growth.  Our policymakers should be looking for ways to encourage new and existing businesses to increase investment in the region, establishing new manufacturing locations, building infrastructure, and pouring capital into existing operations.  If the business climate is such that companies see no potential for reward, then investment will continue to be stagnant in New England.  Easing restrictions and back-breaking tax burdens on businesses now will lead to greater growth, investment and revenue down the road.

The full set of principles can be viewed here.

Today, Jobs for New England Now posted its Core Principles Needed to Make New England a More Attractive Place for Jobs and Business.  The document outlines three fundamental principles for creating an environment that is attractive to business and conducive to creating jobs: competition, innovation and investment.  Policymakers should strive to make these principles a reality in the New England region, to encourage economic growth and increased employment.

Competition is the key to allowing residents to receive the highest quality services at the best rates.  Competition also makes companies work harder to attract new business and improve the effectiveness and quality of their products in order to gain more customers.   Before new businesses will open their doors in New England, they need to be assured that they can succeed in an environment that rewards that competition, and does not penalize it with additional tax burdens and restrictions.

Innovation will help make New England more appealing for new and existing businesses.  Policymakers should be providing incentives for new businesses to launch new products and services to consumers, as well as providing incentives for companies to develop these products.  We should also be finding creative ways to inspire businesses to improve environmental efficiencies and reward those who are making efforts to utilize green technologies that can preserve New England and the earth for future generations. 

Finally, investment is the key to economic growth.  Our policymakers should be looking for ways to encourage new and existing businesses to increase investment in the region, establishing new manufacturing locations, building infrastructure, and pouring capital into existing operations.  If the business climate is such that companies see no potential for reward, then investment will continue to be stagnant in New England.  Easing restrictions and back-breaking tax burdens on businesses now will lead to greater growth, investment and revenue down the road.

The full set of principles can be viewed here.

After many hours of debate and passing a vote in the State House, the Paid Sick Leave Bill has died in the Senate. The highly controversial bill, which was opposed by Jobs for New England Now and business groups across the state of Connecticut, would have required companies with 50 or more employees to provide a minimum of five paid sick days each year for both hourly and salaried workers.

This bill would have placed a strain on already struggling Connecticut businesses by creating an additional financial burden. Connecticut has already lost tens of thousands of jobs this year, and the unemployment number grows each day, making this legislative effort particularly ill-timed. Attempting to mandate paid sick leave is a sign that State Legislators in Connecticut are out of touch with voters, businesses, and the economic challenges being faced by everyday people, as this costly bill would have all but ignored the dire financial straits that many businesses find themselves in today.

Instead of spending their time debating measures that will do nothing to add to Connecticut’s growth and prosperity, our legislators should be focusing on actions they can take to improve the economy and create a more attractive climate for businesses and investors.