Connecticut
Connecticut Gets Back In The Show
By the BF Employees
From the March/April 2002 Difficulty
Connecticut is again in enterprise. At the least, that’s what officers at AdvanceCT, the New Haven, CT-based non-profit enterprise advocacy group wish to make completely clear to any and all comers who would possibly love the Nutmeg State’s favorable location, extremely educated workforce and an increasingly-clear willingness on the state degree to work with new and present corporations.
“Our state has had a tricky go since across the monetary disaster in 2008,” stated Peter Denious, CEO of AdvanceCT. “We at the moment are two-plus years right into a turnaround that’s paying good-looking dividends for the state, bringing new companies and company headquarters right here in addition to serving to in-state corporations develop or select to remain.”
Denious, who stepped into his present place in September 2019 after a protracted profession in non-public fairness and enterprise capital, says the corporate’s practically two dozen staff performed a number one position in that turnaround. The group is funded partially by the state by contracts with the Connecticut Division of Financial Group Improvement and thru funding from the non-public sector, plus has the robust help of Gov. Ned Lamont. He famous that greater than 30 corporations, most with company headquarters within the state, are concerned with AdvanceCT.
The truth is, AdvanceCT’s board of administrators reads like a Who’s Who of high company executives within the state. They embrace the CEO or presidents of such corporations as Infosys, Black & Decker, Otis Worldwide, Philip Morris Worldwide and Constitution Communications. Margaret Keane, the manager chair of the board of administrators at Synchrony, and Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, senior affiliate dean, management research at Yale College College of Administration, are co-chairs of the AdvanceCT board. Donald Kendall, principal at New Fork Capital, is vice chair.
“We’re fairly happy with the truth that so many senior company executives have signed on to our workforce and are serving to us to attract extra curiosity to the state. Their expertise and networks have been extraordinarily useful,” Denious stated.
Connecticut actually appears to wish the assistance. Lengthy seen as one of many wealthiest and most educated states within the nation, over the past 20 years the state has developed a status for prime taxes and intense laws that has damage its standing amongst companies seeking to relocate or develop. Lately, the state took it on the chin when plenty of high-profile banks and Wall Avenue corporations, who had moved to the state only a few years earlier, determined to relocate again to close by New York Metropolis. The departure of high-profile Common Electrical, which was headquartered in Fairfield, for Boston, additionally didn’t assist.
Nonetheless, lately issues began turning round and a number of other massive gamers determined to name Connecticut dwelling. Final yr, for instance, Philip Morris moved its headquarters from New York Metropolis to the Stamford space, turning into the fifteenth Fortune 500 firm situated within the state. Fortune 1,000 firm ITT Inc. and Digital Foreign money Group are additionally shifting their headquarters, and bringing 350-plus jobs, to Stamford. Equally, GE Home equipment situated an innovation heart and micro-manufacturing operation within the state.
With a inhabitants of about 3.55 million individuals, Connecticut is dwelling to the second most Fortune 500 corporations per capita.
Denious stated that AdvanceCT is taking part in an enormous position in publicizing the state’s many benefits. “We notice that we’re not a low tax state,” he stated. “We win corporations over with our high-value added components. For instance, in Connecticut, we promote our workforce. It’s all about expertise and the workforce and we now have that, not like many states within the south and southwest who’ve a tough time discovering the workforce to satisfy the wants of the market.”
A gifted workforce is clearly one thing within the state’s favor. With New Haven-based Yale College as its anchor, the state has a well-earned status for its extremely expert workforce. The state’s 38 faculties and universities graduate greater than 150,000 college students per yr and Yale and different universities such because the UCONN public system, Quinnipiac College and even the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London are pumping out extremely gifted graduates longing for difficult jobs throughout many sectors of the financial system.
High quality of life in Connecticut can also be a draw with many stories rating it among the many high 10 states to stay in. With Boston and New York each inside shut driving distance, and far of the state being suburban and even rural, Denious stated the mix of comfort, location and the distinctive New England tradition are key promoting instruments for his workforce. “Entry to each cities is vital to attracting individuals to our space,” he famous.
So, too, is the truth that the state’s many small cities provide a novel tradition and taste. That’s turning into extra vital to many corporations, notably after what has occurred over the past two years with COVID-19. State officers had been lauded for its response to the pandemic, thanks partially to its world-class healthcare system, and it stays some of the extremely vaccinated states within the nation.
Moreover, Connecticut is a draw for individuals seeking to be round others with related skilled backgrounds. Hartford continues to be the main space within the nation for insurance coverage and insurtech corporations and the life sciences section is turning into an enormous participant all through the state, with Yale main the way in which in R&D and spin-off companies. Biotech and fintech are additionally turning into main components alongside the Stamford to New Haven Interstate 95 hall, he added.
a turnaround that’s paying good-looking dividends for the state.”
In keeping with Denious, AdvanceCT is targeted on 5 totally different key industries. Along with insurance coverage and life sciences, AdvanceCT is concerned in monetary companies, superior manufacturing, and know-how, together with fintech, cyber securities and biotech. “These are all large sectors in Connecticut, and we now have to do extra to make companies see that and notice what we now have to supply,” he stated.
Whereas the long run is kind of brilliant for the state, Denious stated there may be nonetheless a whole lot of work to be completed for AdvanceCT and its companions. He emphasised that U.S. Census Bureau information exhibits that many younger individuals and younger households are shifting to the state and that new enterprise purposes are rising shortly. He additionally identified that the state’s finances is in fine condition, with a $1 billion surplus this yr and a rainy-day fund of greater than $4 billion resulting in upgrades from credit score rankings corporations corresponding to Moody’s and Customary & Poor’s.
“Our job, working with the state and particular person corporations, is to get the phrase out that Connecticut has an unbelievable upside and companies ought to contemplate us when they’re taking a look at different states like Massachusetts or New Jersey,” he stated. “Our job is to be pro-active and aggressive. We wish to make it clear to all that Connecticut is a good place to stay and a terrific place to do enterprise. Our story is simply getting began.”
Judge Matthew Larock asked Ryan Soto if he had a statement to make. Soto was sitting next to 11-year-old Gabriel in a Torrington court room on Friday, finalizing his adoption.
Soto stood up and turned toward the gallery. The courtroom benches were filled with family members and case workers from the state Department of Children and Families, wearing proud smiles. This was a good day.
First, Soto thanked the many people who had helped make the adoption a reality. Then, he looked at his son.
“Gabe, I am honored that you came into my life. You are such an intelligent, kind kid. Thank you for making room in your heart for me as your dad, because we all have options here,” Soto said. Then, Soto addressed the rest of the room, and even the imagined audience that might be listening beyond:
“There’s so many kids out there and a lot of older youth, they need help, and oftentimes we forget that they are still kids. They still yearn for love and family. So, we can make a difference. I didn’t do this alone — we made a difference in Gabe’s life.”
Soto gave Gabriel a kiss on the forehead and took a seat.
Gabriel was one of 40 children who were adopted across Connecticut on Friday, CT Adoption Day. DCF spokesman Peter Yazbak said that around 350 children are expected to be adopted this year in Connecticut.
DCF Commissioner Jodi Hill-Lilly joined the ceremonies in Torrington on Friday, with balloons, toys and cake to celebrate. Once Soto finished his comments, Hill-Lilly said a few words.
“What a tribute. I just personally want to say thank you for stepping up and doing what I consider to be God’s work,” Hill-Lilly said. Hill-Lilly urged other families to consider taking on a fostering role.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say you too can be an adoptive or a foster parent,” Hill-Lilly said.
After the ceremony ended, Soto shared a little more of his journey to adopting Gabriel. As a gay man who wanted to be a dad, “for obvious reasons it wasn’t happening naturally.” So, he started considering fostering a child to adopt, and imagined a kid under 5 years old.
But then, DCF sent him Gabriel’s profile, a 9-year-old looking for a forever home. “I said why not? Let me give him a chance.”
There were challenges. Gabriel had a hard time building trust with Soto, and sometimes grated against his rules. Those, Soto said, are typical challenges with older kids. “But when that wall comes down, it’s a big wall.”
That wall started to come down when Soto attended an awards ceremony at Gabriel’s school. “He was able to count on someone to be there, and I think from there he started trusting — trusting that somebody could care,” Soto said.
Gabriel is still in contact with his biological family. His 4-year-old half-sibling, Elias, who had been adopted by another family, was also present at the event.
DCF has made a major effort in recent years to place children with relatives if they can’t remain with their birth parents. That means the number of children eligible for adoption to non-biological families has gone down. But there remains a bigger need for foster parents who are willing to serve as temporary placements for children who may need a home until they can return to their families.
Natalia Liriano, the director of foster care for DCF, said that many of the children who do need adoptive homes may be older children, or children with significant health issues. People can learn more about those kids by visiting the DCF Heart Gallery page.
“We’re talking about teenagers who can give you a run for your money but they still need love and they still are deserving of being in relationships, children with medically complex needs who need to be in longstanding relationships,” Liriano said.
Earlier on Friday, 1-year-old Corrina was adopted by mom Michelle Gonzalez. Corrina, dressed in a pink tutu, took to the courtroom like a massive play area. She batted at the heart-shaped balloons, smiled at reporters, enjoyed bites of cake, and hugged her mom when it all got to be too much.
When the ceremony was over, Richard Federico, a judicial marshall walked through the court room, taking in the happy faces and tutu-clad toddler.
“This is probably the best thing to happen here,” he said.
Connecticut
Connecticut man dies after being struck by SUV while crossing busy N.J. highway, police say
A 64-year-old Connecticut man died this week after he was struck by a car while crossing a busy Monmouth County roadway earlier this month, authorities said.
The man, identified Friday as Niantic resident Michael Losacano, was hit shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 on State Highway 35 in Wall Township near Wall Church Road, according to a statement from the Wall Township Police Department.
Losacano was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center by local EMS where he died on Monday, the department said.
Connecticut
Tractor-trailer carrying thousands of gallons of fuel catches fire on I-91 in Wethersfield
A tractor-trailer hauling thousands of gallons of fuel caught fire on Interstate 91 North in Wethersfield on Friday morning.
State police said state troopers responded to I-91 North near exit 24 around 7:42 a.m. and found the cab of a tractor- trailer carrying 7,500 gallons of fuel on fire.
The driver was able to get out of the truck and was not injured, according to state police.
The fire departments from Wethersfield and Rocky Hill responded to the scene to extinguish the fire and troopers shut down I-91 North and South as well as oncoming traffic from Route 3 to I-91 South.
Because the truck was hauling fuel, troopers worked to move drivers who were nearby, state police said.
I-91 South reopened shortly after the fire was out.
The left two lanes of I-91 North have been reopened and the state police Fire & Explosives Investigation Unit is also responding to assist with the investigation.
State police said the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection later responded to the scene.
New York4 mins ago
Dining Sheds Changed the N.Y.C. Food Scene. Now Watch Them Disappear.
Los Angeles, Ca8 mins ago
Concrete barriers mysteriously placed on streets across the San Fernando Valley
Detroit, MI21 mins ago
How to Watch Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons on Saturday, November 23
Miami, FL31 mins ago
15-year-old girl shot at McDonald’s in NW Miami-Dade; police believe shooting was accidental – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale
San Francisco, CA34 mins ago
San Francisco D.A. announces conviction in 2015 quadruple murder
Colorado2 years ago
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Midwest3 years ago
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
South2 years ago
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Videos1 year ago
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
South3 years ago
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Politics6 hours ago
From CDC to labor secretary: See Trump's top picks for Cabinet roles
World7 hours ago
WHO says mpox remains public health emergency of international concern
News7 hours ago
Trump names former Texas state Rep. Scott Turner to lead Housing and Urban Development
News13 hours ago
Video: Heavy Rains and Wind Wreak Havoc on the West Coast
Politics14 hours ago
'Conveyor belt of radicals': GOP slammed over Senate absences that helped Biden score more judges in lame duck
-
Business1 week ago
Column: OpenAI just scored a huge victory in a copyright case … or did it?
-
Health1 week agoBird flu leaves teen in critical condition after country's first reported case
-
Business6 days agoColumn: Molly White's message for journalists going freelance — be ready for the pitfalls
-
Science3 days agoTrump nominates Dr. Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid and help take on 'illness industrial complex'
-
Politics5 days agoTrump taps FCC member Brendan Carr to lead agency: 'Warrior for Free Speech'
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739950/247386_Elon_Musk_Open_AI_CVirginia.jpg "Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI")
Technology5 days agoInside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with OpenAI
-
Lifestyle6 days agoSome in the U.S. farm industry are alarmed by Trump's embrace of RFK Jr. and tariffs
-
World5 days agoProtesters in Slovakia rally against Robert Fico’s populist government
