Looking Beyond Election, State Plans Economic Development Summit in November

With Election Day less than three weeks away, Connecticut’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) has announced plans for the second annual Connecticut Economic Development Summit, to be held at the Yale School of Management in New Haven on Tuesday, November 29 – just three weeks after the election.

Described as a “unique, half-day afternoon conference,” DECD officials indicate that the focus will be  “on the policies, decisions, and innovation driving economic development in Connecticut; the influx of new businesses over the past year; and why Connecticut is a highly desirable corporate location AND place to live right now.”

Registration for the web-based conference is $55 for state and municipal employees, $99 for general attendees.  Sponsorships are also available by contacting the agency at decd.eds@ct.gov.  The conference will run from 1:30 – 5:30 PM.

Attendees are expected to include innovators from the private sector, local leaders, corporate partners, social media influencers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, Connecticut stakeholders, and new residents, according to DECD.

The agency’s Commissioner, David Lehman, has earned praise from both his current boss, Governor Ned Lamont, and Lamont’s Republican opponent, Bob Stefanowski.

The Department’s website points out that Connecticut is in the top 5 in the U.S. for productivity of the workforce, is ranked #4 in the U.S. for master’s degrees and #8 for science and engineering degrees, and 30% of the U.S. population, total jobs and businesses are within 500 miles of the state.

In some circles, the conversation about how Connecticut ought to proceed is already intensifying, with an eye on identifying post-election priorities, including a webinar next week co-sponsored by Connecticut Compact and a first-time Economic Conference hosted by the CT CPA’s  on Nov. 4 in Rocky Hill, a handful of days prior to statewide voting.

When the rhetoric of the campaign recedes to the rear view mirror, the Department of Economic Development appears to be indicating there’s not even a month to waste in developing an agenda to advance Connecticut’s economy.