[WATCH] CBIA: 2024 Year in Review

This year marks CBIA’s 209th year as an organization. And it was a special one, for so many reasons.

That legacy—one of innovation, perseverance, and collaboration—reminds us of the incredible platform that supports us as one of the largest business organizations in the country and certainly one of the most vibrant.

The CBIA Foundation for Economic Growth and Opportunity was launched at this time last year. We anticipated significant buy-in, but could have never anticipated just how much involvement and passion you’d contribute.

And the foundation also attracted new faces and fresh perspectives, including the state’s largest teachers’ union—the Connecticut Education Association—the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges, and Dalio Philanthropies.

We are building a bigger boat to navigate Connecticut’s challenges, working together to realize a common vision for our great state.

Opportunity Connecticut

The foundation held more than two dozen information-gathering forums across the state that also attracted an incredibly diverse group of stakeholders, put together an impressive advisory board of strategic thinkers, and worked with an outside consultant to develop a much-need, long-term economic strategic plan.

The Opportunity Connecticut plan, our blueprint for reimagining the state’s workforce and economy, reflects the bold, forward-thinking ideas of our members.

The Opportunity Connecticut plan reflects the bold, forward-thinking ideas of our members.

Its three pillars—business climate, workforce and education, and quality of life—address the challenges we face with solutions rooted in your insights and engagement.

The foundation’s work is just beginning, but the energy and level of commitment you have already shown makes me confident this plan will be the catalyst for driving a new era of advocacy and collaboration.

As the foundation team continues its work, CBIA’s policy team is already getting to work on developing and implementing more immediate solutions, building on the success of earlier campaigns we put in place to address Connecticut’s post-pandemic recovery.

Reimagine Connecticut

In the fall we launched Reimagine Connecticut. This 11-point package of policy recommendations represents our latest solutions-based legislative agenda, targeting areas for immediate impact.

One hundred and thirty three candidates for elected office pledged their support for Reimagine Connecticut. Of those candidates—70 lawmakers, 37 percent of the next General Assembly—were elected to office.

Most importantly, this is a uniquely bipartisan group of lawmakers, split almost evenly between Republicans and Democrats, who pledged support for our solutions addressing the high costs of living and running a business, expanding career pathways, fostering innovation, and growing a vibrant economy.

Member engagement has driven and sustained CBIA for over two hundred years and what will propel us into the future.

We will need your support also to implement these solutions. We need to work together, we need continued engagement, and most of all, we need your voices to be loud.

Member engagement is the heart of CBIA. It’s what has driven and sustained us for over two hundred years and what will propel us into the future.

Together, we are making a difference and building a brighter future—not just for our companies, but for our communities, our state, and the generations to come.