Jobs For Connecticut Now

Here is some good news about Gov. Dannel Malloy’s “Plan B” budget: At least he has a “Plan B.” For, from what we know so far, “Plan A” could scarcely be said to have existed. “Plan A” was, quite literally, Pie in the Sky: We will find $2 billion under a rock somewhere. The unions will do our work for us. There is magic out there: Watch the smoke. Watch the mirrors. Read More.

Tourism, Rhode Island’s fourth-largest industry, is being threatened by the proposal to expand the sales tax to include tickets and memberships.

Tourism accounts for $3.4 billion of the state’s economy, 10 percent of private-sector jobs and 9 percent of state tax revenue.  Read More.

I read with great alarm of the breakdown in negotiations between the governor and the state unions. The ramifications go far beyond the layoff notices he has authorized. In order to make the budget work the way the governor has proposed, cuts would be made to many state agencies that directly serve the public. Read More.

BOSTON – Governor Deval L. Patrick’s top economic development aide told state legislators on Wednesday that casinos should complement tourism and create jobs while staying true to the state’s character.

During a Statehouse hearing, Gregory Bialecki, secretary of housing and economic development, said key issues around expanded gambling remain the same since the governor submitted a bill in 2007 to authorize up to three casino resorts in different geographic zones of the state. Bialecki said that any casinos in Massachusetts must match or exceed the entertainment and gaming offered elsewhere in New England, particularly Connecticut, since one focus must be on recapturing gambling dollars being spent by Massachusetts residents in Connecticut and Rhode Island. He also called for a competitive auction for licenses.

“Massachusetts should seek what others have successfully achieved and create first-class facilities of which we can all be proud,” Bialecki said. “ If we are going to do this, we should do it well.”

To read more click here.

When we think about industry in Connecticut, we often think of manufacturing, defense or financial services. While those are all vital industries, Connecticut—especially the southeastern region—has another important economic driver within its borders: the tourism industry.

Overall, the tourism and cultural heritage industry brings $14 billion in economic activity to Connecticut annually and about $9.4 billion in personal income. The industry brings in about $1.7 billion in state and local revenue, and it employs about 110,000 people—about 6.5 percent of our workforce.

As with so many industries, tourism has been plagued by the nationwide recession. A January 2010 report from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research examined statistics for the state’s traveler welcome center and major attraction visitors, air passengers, casino slot machine revenue, hotel occupancy, traffic and leisure and hospitality employment. To see full article click here.

When we think about industry in Connecticut, we often think of manufacturing, defense or financial services. While those are all vital industries, Connecticut—especially the southeastern region—has another important economic driver within its borders: the tourism industry.

Overall, the tourism and cultural heritage industry brings $14 billion in economic activity to Connecticut annually and about $9.4 billion in personal income. The industry brings in about $1.7 billion in state and local revenue, and it employs about 110,000 people—about 6.5 percent of our workforce.

As with so many industries, tourism has been plagued by the nationwide recession. A January 2010 report from the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research examined statistics for the state’s traveler welcome center and major attraction visitors, air passengers, casino slot machine revenue, hotel occupancy, traffic and leisure and hospitality employment. To see full article click here.

It’s spring, the weather is warming, and apart from that welcome distraction from the sputtering economy, we also have had plenty of big news over the past week from other places to keep our minds off things: Tornados (mother nature strikes again), royals (totally sweet dress) and terrorists (dead and dumped in the ocean.) At Bridgewater State College, business professor Jon Bryan had some other issues on his mind when I rang him yesterday. Or one, to be exact, which unfortunately is probably not going to be helped by an Osama-free world or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: Inflation.

You see, the price of oil (and of course gas) is still a-risin’, and so are a whole bunch of other commodities. Wages aren’t. Neither is hiring, at least not by much. To see Full article click here