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April 2007 — Vol. 85, No. 3

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Brownfield reforms will improve economy and quality of life, especially in our cities

By John R. Rathgeber

CBIA President and CEO


Television ads that CBIA ran in February showed two college-age students talking about wanting to stay in Connecticut after they graduate — if they can find jobs here.
Keeping young, well-educated adults in our workforce will be critical for Connecticut to remain competitive in the global economy. But between 1990 and 2005, Connecticut’s population of 18- to 34-year-olds shrank 23%, according to a recent report by the state’s Office for Workforce Competitiveness.

Our state government must make Connecticut more attractive to young workers by fostering a vibrant economy that creates good jobs and a high quality of life. To do that, the state needs to make business costs more competitive, assure that we have a skilled workforce, and upgrade our transportation and energy infrastructure. In addition, the state should also make it easier for the private sector to redevelop brownfields.

As an older industrial state, Connecticut has many brownfield sites — abandoned mills, factories and other former industrial properties usually located in cities or near major transportation routes. These sites are typically contaminated and have become eyesores. They also represent lost economic opportunities. Cleaning up brownfields and returning them to productive use will improve the environment and the economy. It will create jobs where they’re most needed and where infrastructure already exists: in our cities.

Connecticut now has several programs and funds to promote brownfield redevelopment, but they’re coordinated by several different agencies and the process of accessing them is cumbersome. The state needs a comprehensive approach that includes a one-stop brownfields office where developers can quickly find out what regulations apply and what help is available so they can clean up and redevelop more brownfield properties around the state.