Rebuilding Connecticut: Next Steps—CBIA Releases 2022 Policy Priorities

The state’s largest business organization today released its 2022 legislative session policy priorities, which focus on continuing to strengthen Connecticut’s economic recovery from the pandemic. 

CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima said the organization’s Rebuilding Connecticut: Next Steps legislative agenda, developed with the collaboration of residents and employers from around the state, focuses on workforce challenges and tax relief. 

“The overall outlook from Connecticut businesses is growing more positive with the understanding that we must maintain our fiscal discipline and address critical challenges,” DiPentima said today. “Resolving the state’s labor shortage is top among those challenges for this year.

“The state’s near-term fiscal health is one of the strongest in the country. That provides a platform to do much more than hold the line on taxes and pay down long-term liabilities.

“Let’s address workforce challenges that have simmered for years because of our sluggish population growth and now represent the greatest threat to our recovery—80% of employers are struggling to find and retain workers and 35% say the labor shortage is the great threat to growth.

“And this is the year to implement comprehensive tax relief for both individuals and businesses, making our state more cost competitive and capitalizing on the recent influx of new residents and companies to make Connecticut a true destination.”

Solutions-Based Recommendations

DiPentima said the 2021 legislative session, which saw the adoption of a number of CBIA’s policy recommendations, did much to position Connecticut for a strong recovery.

“Our 2022 policy priorities represent the next step in that journey—solutions-based recommendations targeting the numerous challenges ahead, designed to sustain and build on the momentum of the past year,” he said.

Eric Gjede, CBIA’s vice president for public policy, said Connecticut employers, particularly small businesses, continued to struggle as COVID-19 positivity rates surged in the last two months.

“These are solutions-based recommendations targeting the numerous challenges ahead.”

CBIA’s Chris DiPentima

“Businesses are traveling down a longer road than expected to recover from the pandemic, Gjede said. 

“We have a unique opportunity to use this session to implement more competitive tax policies that will help attract businesses and provide economic growth for years to come.

“Most importantly, let’s continue working together to enhance the state’s competitiveness, support and elevate small businesses, and fuel economic growth by nurturing businesses and the opportunities they create for all residents.”

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CBIA is Connecticut’s largest business organization, with thousands of member companies, small and large, representing a diverse range of industries from every part of the state. For more information, please contact Ali Warshavsky (860.244.1929).