Credible, Not Negative

CBIA’s main mission is to create a globally competitive business climate in Connecticut. Yet many people who oppose our objectives simply write us off as engaging in a kind of knee-jerk negativity about the state as a place to do business.
Nothing could be further from the truth. CBIA as an organization can only sustain itself through companies’ willingness to come here, stay here, and grow here. We have nothing to gain by being unfairly critical of Connecticut.
We want to promote the state and its economic strengths, but we also have to be credible in our analysis of public policy developments and their impact on our members.
We have to speak openly, honestly, and analytically about the fiscal issues and other challenges that Connecticut faces and the kind of future we’ll have if we don’t address them.
Results from the CBIA/BlumShapiro 2015 Survey of Connecticut Businesses reinforce the fact that job creators are currently not very keen on Connecticut as a place to operate and grow their companies.
When you read those findings, understand that we don’t publish them lightly; we publish them as an objective representation of where things stand right now.
When policymakers return to Hartford in 2016, we want them to have a clear sense of how concerned the business community is about where the state is heading.
We need to continue to drill down to accurately determine the reasons for those survey results and make much smarter policy choices to create a more hospitable environment for business investment and a more economically competitive Connecticut.
A competitive business climate isn’t just about business. Failing to reach our economic potential leads to higher unemployment, stagnant wages, and continuous pressure on state budgets.
Conversely, a healthy state economy propelled by a strong business climate leads to more job opportunities, higher wages, and fiscal stability.
We are taking a tougher stand on these issues than we may have in the past, because we believe the times demand it. The state and its businesses are under incredible competitive pressures. Other states that have been recruiting our companies for years are now much more overt and aggressive in their efforts.
So, when we talk in any public forum about Connecticut’s challenges, we do so to underscore the gravity of the situation and create a sense of urgency around issues that must be addressed if we’re going to have the economic future and quality of life that we all desire.–Joe Brennan
Joe Brennan is CBIA’s president and CEO.