Archive for January, 2010

Building a Better Connecticut Doesn't Start with New Taxes

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

In today’s CT Confidential, Rick Green blogs about the business climate in Connecticut, and laments that the cost of living in the state is driving people away.  Finding “revenue” with new taxes isn’t going to do anything to solve our state’s problems, and in striving to make Connecticut a better place to run a business, the effort shouldn’t start with a call to raise taxes.

Green attended a forum on housing and the economy in Hartford yesterday, sponsored by the Partnership for Strong Communities, a group working to build partnerships between nonprofit housing groups and the business community.  The event was also attended by two gubernatorial candidates — Mary Glassman and Oz Griebel.  Most notably, several business voices in Connecticut lamented the state’s loss of jobs, educated workers and investment.

Connecticut should be working to create a business environment that will foster growth, development and investment in new business, a good first step on the road to economic recovery. 

The full post is available here.

Building a Better Connecticut Doesn’t Start with New Taxes

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

In today’s CT Confidential, Rick Green blogs about the business climate in Connecticut, and laments that the cost of living in the state is driving people away.  Finding “revenue” with new taxes isn’t going to do anything to solve our state’s problems, and in striving to make Connecticut a better place to run a business, the effort shouldn’t start with a call to raise taxes.

Green attended a forum on housing and the economy in Hartford yesterday, sponsored by the Partnership for Strong Communities, a group working to build partnerships between nonprofit housing groups and the business community.  The event was also attended by two gubernatorial candidates — Mary Glassman and Oz Griebel.  Most notably, several business voices in Connecticut lamented the state’s loss of jobs, educated workers and investment.

Connecticut should be working to create a business environment that will foster growth, development and investment in new business, a good first step on the road to economic recovery. 

The full post is available here.

Let's Not Start The Discussion With Raising Taxes

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Rick Green’s CT Confidential

At a Capitol presentation on the upcoming budget this week by Connecticut Voices for Children, I heard an audience member loudly comment that higher taxes are our charitable obligation. More>

Let’s Not Start The Discussion With Raising Taxes

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

Rick Green’s CT Confidential

At a Capitol presentation on the upcoming budget this week by Connecticut Voices for Children, I heard an audience member loudly comment that higher taxes are our charitable obligation. More>

Warning Sign: Connecticut is losing residents

Monday, January 25th, 2010

From the Meriden Record Journal: Connecticut has seen a steady outbound migration for several years, especially among 18- to 34-year-olds. But the exodus continued to add all ages, including retirees, at the start of the recession two years ago. … A recently released study by Atlas Van Lines on 2009 migration trends reports that Connecticut had the highest percentage of moves out of state. Out of 2,031 shipments related to the state last year, 1,230 were outbound, or 60.5 percent, with the 801 inbound shipments comprising 39 percent.

Bad Month Caps Bad Year for Jobs

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

From the Danbury News Times:  While much of the ills of the economy have been blamed on the financial sector, it was in the state’s factories where the most pain was seen.

Manufacturing in Connecticut lost 15,700 jobs in 2009.

Survey: Half of Eastern Connecticut's businesses downsized

Friday, January 15th, 2010

From the Norwich Bulletin:  The high cost of doing business in the state and rising health care expenses have caused nearly half of Eastern Connecticut businesses to downsize during the recession, according to a survey released today.

The 2010 Survey of Eastern Connecticut Businesses also indicates that nearly half the businesses in the region also have reduced employee wages and benefits.

To see the full article and comments from JNEN’s co-chair, Tony Sheridan, click here.

Survey: Half of Eastern Connecticut’s businesses downsized

Friday, January 15th, 2010

From the Norwich Bulletin:  The high cost of doing business in the state and rising health care expenses have caused nearly half of Eastern Connecticut businesses to downsize during the recession, according to a survey released today.

The 2010 Survey of Eastern Connecticut Businesses also indicates that nearly half the businesses in the region also have reduced employee wages and benefits.

To see the full article and comments from JNEN’s co-chair, Tony Sheridan, click here.

WNPR: Top Economist Predicts a Lag in Job Growth

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

From Connecticut’s WNPR:  “A top Federal Reserve economist has told an audience in Hartford that while he foresees continued growth in the economy, jobs will continue to lag behind the overall recovery.  Eric Rosengren, the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, says he believes there are still significant headwinds facing the economy, including low levels of lending by the banks, cautious spending by consumers, and above all, the continued sluggishness in the labor market.” To hear the full story from WNPR’s Harriet Jones click here.

Connecticut In A Recovery, But Growth Will Be Moderate

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Interesting interview in the Hartford Business Journal with CBIA’s Peter Gioia: “We are technically out of recession and recovering at a moderate pace. But we took such a severe downturn in the fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 that most people do not “feel” we are in recovery. By end of 2010 recovery is expected to be strong and long enough to be noticeable.”   To see the full article click here.