We’re always looking for ways that policy makers can better understand the needs of the business community, especially as we look to climb our way out of this recession. While we’re hopeful that we are on the way out, there are some indications that have folks worried. Is that the case? How can local businesses try to get themselves in better financial shape? What can policy makers do to help the business environment? Those are some important questions that we hope will be answered at CBIA’s ”The Connecticut Economy” conference on September 10th at the Rocky Hill Marriott. To learn more click here!
Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
Jobs and the Recovery – Top Issues CBIA’s Connecticut Economy Conference
Thursday, August 26th, 2010As the Primaries Pass, Goals Remain the Same
Thursday, August 12th, 2010This week Connecticut residents went to the polls to choose their favored candidates to run in the general election for the Republican and Democrat parties. To those who won – we offer our sincerest congratulations. To those who lost, we applaud your efforts and thank you for contributing to the democratic process. Diversifying the pool of candidates makes our democracy stronger and your inclusion in the debate can help to raise important issues that are sometimes not given their due attention.
As our focus moves towards the general elections in November, we continue to emphasize the fact that with new leadership, should come more cooperation among our elected leaders and the business community. We need leaders who can set a tone that will resonate throughout the state that the status quo is no longer acceptable and Connecticut needs to do more to improve our business environment. The remaining candidates must identify those challenges which are facing the business community in Connecticut, and provide realistic solutions, such as lowering state spending, attracting and nurturing more small businesses, and providing new incentives to encourage job creation in Connecticut.
We trust that these candidates will embrace some of the suggestions given to them by the business community, and also provide innovative ways to spur job and business growth. The result, will be leading our state in a new direction that creates a more prosperous and attractive climate for current and new businesses to keep their doors open and provide more jobs for Connecticut’s residents.
Mass. announces second-quarter stimulus jobs
Friday, July 30th, 2010We were pleased to see the Patrick administration today that in the second quarter, Federal stimulus money has funded the equivalent of more than 10,000 full-time positions in Massachusetts, which is an increase of 57 percent over last quarter. The state said its number refers only to stimulus awards granted directly to state government agencies.
The state claims that a total of 27,044 individuals – part-time as well as full-time – received paychecks thanks to stimulus funds. Since the stimulus program began in February 2009, more than 41,830 individuals in Massachusetts have received at least one paycheck funded by the federal stimulus.
The economy is not yet where we’d like it to be, but these steps taken along the way can help the area’s unemployed have stability as they search for work, and will help push the economy one step closer to recovery.
Boston Governor Finds Funds to Employ Youth
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010It’s no secret that most people are getting hit hard by the recession, but we tend to forget about how it is affecting the nation’s youth and their ability to find employment. Although the economy cannot change overnight, we were pleased to see that the Patrick administration is making an effort to increase opportunities for employment for New England’s young folks.
The full article, which can be found here, states that the administration will provide $9.1 million to put about 4,700 at-risk youth to work. Joanne Goldstein, secretary of labor and workforce development, said $3.5 million will come from the new fiscal 2011 budget, $3.8 million from reserve funding in last year’s budget, and $1.8 million from federal stimulus money from previously years.
The money will go to 25 municipalities with the greatest number of youths who have gone through the juvenile justice system. Eligible individuals, state officials say, must be 14 to 21 years old and come from families whose household incomes fall below the poverty line, which is about $18,000 for a family of four.
Although about 1,400 of the total jobs are slated for Boston, other cities receiving funding include Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Chicopee, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gardner, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Leominster, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Quincy, Randolph, Salem, Springfield, Taunton, Weymouth, and Worcester.
Lew Finfer, a leader of the Youth Jobs Coalition, (which has been pressing the state on the job issue) says the job market is stagnant, especially for teens.
“For teens, this not a recession” he said. It’s a depression in terms of their ability to get jobs.’’
With no help from the federal government this year, Patrick decided to begin using money that was allocated for summer jobs in the fiscal 2011 budget, which is making the area’s youth happy.
Daiquan Bradford, a 16-year-old from Roxbury who helped press for more funding, said he was pleased that the state listened to their appeals and found more cash for summer jobs.
“It’s a good thing, because we’ve been very persistent in our fight,’’ he said. “It is nice to know that we got some recognition for our hard work.”
Moran: Next Governor Must Change Status Quo
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010This week the Hartford Business Journal featured an opinion piece from Paul Moran, Executive Director of Jobs for New England Now about the gubernatorial candidate forum held at the Connecticut Business Expo and the need for Connecticut’s next governor to change the business climate in the state:
A Very Grateful Thanks to the Gubernatorial Candidates…
Friday, June 11th, 2010On behalf of our coalition members and our co-hosts, which included the Chamber Leadership Cabinet, the Chamber Insurance Trust and AT&T, Jobs for Connecticut Now would like to formally thank the six gubernatorial candidates for attending yesterday’s gubernatorial forum at the Connecticut Business Expo. Michael Fedele, Thomas Foley, Oz Griebel, Ned Lamont, Dan Malloy, and Tom Marsh, all provided an engaging and meaningful discussion about the economic and business issues facing the state of Connecticut and we are immensely grateful to all of them for their time. Additionally, had it not been for the expert moderation of CNBC’s Ron Insana, we would not have had as quality a program that was delivered to our audience.
The forum was an incredible opportunity for the candidates to discuss their ideas on job creation and closing the state’s massive budget gap as the race for Connecticut’s next executive office holder heats up. It was clear, that the goals of the candidates are quite similar: lower state spending, attract and nurture more small businesses, and emphasize new industries to end the twenty-year lull in job creation in Connecticut. The means, however, is where the debate lies.
For some of the candidates, the key to overcoming these economic challenges lie within the state. Their idea is to reduce state spending, which will in turn lower taxes. They also, want to increase funding for education, where the work force stems from, in order to keep more people in the state, and which wouldcreate a higher tax revenue, as there would be more taxpayers, without raising taxes. The internal approach also calls for incentives for small business, like tax credits for adding employees, and give tax credits to encourage research and development in newer industries. Another approach for job creation is to look outside the state to attract new business, rather than build on what already exists. It seems that some of the candidates believe that attracting new business would be more profitable than working with what the state already has.
We believe the final answer will be a combination of both an internal and external model. But most importantly, we saw that all of the candidates agree that anti-business legislation is a major factor in the job creation issue. The candidates share many similarities when it comes to solving the job creation deficit, but it will be their differences that set them apart as the race draws closer. For this race, a candidate will have to create innovative ideas to woo the people and convince them that he really can change the present and past problems we face with job creation and create a new opportunistic outlook for Connecticut’s business climate for future generations.
Again, we thank all of the candidates, our co-hosts, and Mr. Insana for their participation. And to all of those who were able to attend, we thank them for their support and engagement as well.
Press Coverage From Yesterday’s Gubernatorial Forum
Friday, June 11th, 2010The New London Day: “Candidates have little to argue about when it comes to employment”
The New Britain Herald: “Six candidates for governor shared their ideas for moving Connecticut out of its economic slough of despondency.”
The Hartford Courant: “Moderator Ron Insana, a well-known television personality, looked at the panel of six white, middle-aged men who were wearing similar business suits and described them as ‘this wildly diverse group of gubernatorial candidates.’”
WTNH Channel 8: “All of the candidates for Governor attended a forum on the economy and job growth Thursday afternoon.”
CTNewsJunkie: “The gubernatorial forum was sponsored by a business organization called “Jobs for Connecticut Now.” The event … included a lot of consensus on how to improve Connecticut’s economy and business climate.”
Connecticut Mirror: “Differences were in soft focus on stage at the Connecticut Convention Center, where CNBC’s Ron Insana led a 60-minute discussion about jobs and the economy.”
Waterbury Republican American: “The event, which was moderated by CNBC senior analyst Ron Insana, attracted about 200 business people to hear the candidates discuss the ‘most pressing issues’ facing the state’s business community.”
NBC Connecticut: “The issue for voters and the audience of business people at the Thursday afternoon forum, organized by a group called Jobs for Connecticut Now, [was] which candidate will spur employment.”
Breaking News: All Primary Candidates to Participate in CT Gubernatorial Forum
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010Jobs for Connecticut Now, along with the Chamber Leadership Cabinet, the Chamber Insurance Trust and AT&T, are proud to announce that on Thursday, June 10th, CNBC’s Ron Insana will moderate a discussion of the most pressing issues facing Connecticut’s business community. Insana will moderate a forum discussion among all of Connecticut’s gubernatorial candidates as part of the annual Connecticut Business Expo at the Connecticut Convention Center.
All six of the candidates participating in this August’s primaries have now confirmed their attendance. The candidates include: Michael Fedele, Thomas Foley, Oz Griebel, Ned Lamont, Dan Malloy, and Tom Marsh. During the forum Mr. Insana will ask candidates to discuss their views on issues impacting economic development in the state and to bring forth ideas on how Connecticut can create more jobs for its residents and attract new business to the state.
Those wishing to attend must have a ticket to enter the luncheon. Tickets can still be purchased through the Connecticut Business Expo. Click here to secure your seat for a very important discussion about Connecticut’s future!
Save the Date!
Thursday, May 27th, 2010Hartford Business Expo
Thursday, June 10, 2010
11:30 am – 2:30 pm
CT Convention Center
100 Columbus Blvd, Hartford, CT
Join us for an exclusive luncheon for business leaders at the Connecticut Business Expo, hosted by the Chamber Leadership Cabinet, Jobs for Connecticut Now and Chamber Insurance Trust and sponsored by AT&T.
The luncheon will feature keynote speaker Ron Insana, a CNBC senior analyst and commentator who provides his perspective on important business stories. Ron is the author of three books Trendwatching: Don’t Be Fooled by the Next Investment Fad, Mania, or Bubble, Traders’ Tales and The Message of the Markets.
As part of the program, Ron will also moderate an economic development and job creation panel discussion featuring candidates for governor.
For more information or reservations, please contact Jeff VanTienen, Director of Chamber Relations at (800) 953-4467 or jvantienen@cfr-cit.com. Please take a
moment to stop by our booths to get information on our value added programs available to chamber members.
Greece May Be Closer To Home Than You Think…
Thursday, May 6th, 2010Now that the Connecticut legislature has passed finished their session for this year, many folks might think there’s time to exhale before the new budget battles begin again. But as Dan Haar (Courant Columnist) points out, the planning for next year should come with earnest and it should bring some responsible and critical decisions to our state’s financial outlook. To see Haar’s piece click here.
