What do you think about state's new economic plan?

(Dec. 11, 2009) As promised when Connecticut’s Economic Strategic Plan was first unveiled in September, several forums are being held around the state to get public feedback on the plan. Three forums in January will give business leaders the opportunity to weigh in on the plan and suggest how they might improve it.

Although the plan highlights the need for greater job creation and retention in Connecticut, the purpose of these forums will be to help develop a detailed blueprint on how to achieve it. The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) intends to drill down into the proposed initiatives to see how they can be adopted to best serve Connecticut. The DECD will then release a follow-up document to the legislature.

At the first forum last week in Norwalk, local taxpayers and legislators discussed the plan with DECD Commissioner Joan McDonald and state Economist Stan McMillan. Many attendees talked about the need to reform government, reduce the cost of doing business in Connecticut and make the state more business friendly.

CBIA encourages its members to attend an upcoming forum and share their views.

The full text of the plan can be viewed at www.ct.gov/ecd. For more information about the plan or the forums, contact CBIA’s Jesmin Basanti at 860-244-1929 or Jesmin.basanti@cbia.com.

Upcoming forums:

Thursday, Jan. 7, 6–8 p.m. Central Connecticut State University – Vance Academic Center, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain

Thursday, Jan. 21, 6–8 p.m. Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce, 333 Kennedy Drive, Suite R101, Torrington

Monday, January 25, 6–8 p.m. Otis Library, The Community Room, 261 Main Street, Norwich