Nonprofit Density Impacts Unemployment Rate; CT Misses Top 10

Communities with better civic health have weathered the recent recession far better – and experienced considerably smaller increases in unemployment – than other communities that faced similar economic circumstances, according to a report by the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC).  Counties across the nation that were rich in nonprofit organizations lost considerably fewer jobs than the low-nonprofit counties, the study revealed. A state-by-state analysis by the organization placed Connecticut in the second tier of states in both the density of nonprofit organizations, and social cohesion (interacting with friends and neighbors), the two measures used in the study, released in 2012.  Connecticut ranked between #11 and #20 in each category, just outside the first tier, top-10 states.

For individuals who held jobs in 2008, the odds of becoming unemployed were cut in half if they lived in a community with many nonprofit organizations rather than one with a few nonprofits, even if the two communities were otherwise similar, the study found.  Among the New England states, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont placed in the top ten.

Overall, counties with more nonprofits per capita prior to the recession had lower unemployment in 2006. And while almost all of the counties lost jobs during the recession years, the counties with more nonprofits per capita lost fewer jobs between 2006 and 2009. Both patterns remain even when holding education, median income, housing prices, and other economic factors constant, according to the report.  Counties ranking in the top 10% in nonprofit density experienced an increase of only 2 percentage points in their unemployment rate between 2006 and 2009, compared with 5.1 percentage points for the counties in the bottom 10% in nonprofit density.

These results suggest – according to the report – that nonprofits may bring economic benefits by directly employing people and also by changing the economic climate of the whole community. Nonprofits support civic engagement and social cohesion; in turn, when citizens feel committed to their communities and connected to their fellow residents, they are more likely to make decisions that boost local employment.

The study used statistical models to investigate the relationship between civic health and unemployment in the 50 states, 942 metro areas, and more than 3,100 counties since 2006.  NCoC was chartered by Congress in 1953 to harness the patriotic energy and national civic involvement surrounding World War II. In 2009, Congress  expanded the organization’s Civic Health Assessment to become the nation’s largest and most definitive measure of civic engagement.

High Marks for PBS Programming, Affiliate Stations

Connecticut Public Television will celebrate its 50^th anniversary at a gala on June 8 at the Hartford Marriott.  CPTV is a locally and nationally recognized producer and presenter of quality public television programming, including original documentaries, public affairs shows and educational programming.  CPTV has built a reputation as a leader in children’s programming, including playing an historic role in bringing Barney & Friends™, Bob the Builder™ and Thomas & Friends™ to public television. The station is an affiliate of PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, which just released its annual survey on public perception of its programming. The survey confirmed that PBS and its member stations are ranked first in trust among nationally known institutions, and are considered an "excellent" use of tax dollars by the American public.  The yearly study has also called PBS the most fair network for news and public affairs 10 consecutive times. In the most current round of research, PBS KIDS was named the most educational TV/media brand, the safest destination for children to watch television or visit online, and the top provider of content that helps children learn reading, math and essential skills. In each question, PBS KIDS significantly outscored cable and commercial broadcast television.

• More than 4 in 5 people trust PBS (85% "trust a great deal" or "trust somewhat")
• Nearly 3 in 4 participants (76%) believe federal funding for PBS is money well spent. 
• More than 4 in 10 respondents (44%) named PBS KIDS the most educational TV/media brand, significantly outscoring the second most highly rated brand, Disney, which was considered most educational by 12%.
• Eighty-one percent (81%) agreed "strongly or somewhat" that "PBS helps prepare children for success in school and life."   

PBS received high marks for the effectiveness of its programming for children and adults in terms of handling important topics. A majority of respondents believed PBS programming addressed key subjects – from providing access to the arts and improving literacy to providing access to a variety of viewpoints either “very well” or “well.”

•    Provide people access to arts and culture – 67% •    Promote an understanding of American history – 62% •    Inform people of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity – 60% •    Promote an understanding of science and technology – 60% •    Improve literacy – 59% •    Provide access to a variety of viewpoints – 54% •    Inform people of important political and social issues – 51% •    Inform people about health issues – 51%

• 8 in 10 people (80%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that “PBS helps prepare children for success in school and life.” This statement was equated with cable television and commercial broadcast television by 37% and 34% of participants, respectively.(3)

• Eighty-four percent (84%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “helps children improve their reading and math skills.” Cable and commercial broadcast television received this rating from 40% and 30% of respondents, respectively.(3)

• Eighty-eight percent (88%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “is a trusted and safe place for children to watch television.” Only 34% and 36% of respondents agreed with this statement regarding cable and commercial broadcast television, respectively.(3)

• Eight-five percent (85%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS “is a trusted and safe place for children to visit online,” while this statement was attributed to cable television and commercial broadcasters by only 31% and 34% of the sample, respectively.(3)

• Eighty-three percent (83%) agreed “strongly or somewhat” that PBS is "the innovator" in children’s educational media. 37% percent and 27% of participants also applied this statement to cable and commercial broadcast television, respectively.

The research was conducted in January and February 2012 by the independent, non-partisan research companies Harris Interactive and ORC Online Caravan. Each year, PBS commissions research to measure its performance and value as judged by its most important stakeholder – the American public.  Full results are available at http://to.pbs.org/most-trusted-2012.  

Towns and Cities Look to Varied Housing Options, Community Engagement

Many municipalities across Connecticut and New England are finding that community engagement – proactively, thoughtfully and creatively asking their residents for their attention and ideas about proposed housing and commercial development – pays off big time. That was evident last month at UMass/Amherst when three federal agencies – HUD, EPA and DOT – along with the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities brought together experts and advocates from the region to discuss the best ways to merge affordable housing creation, transit and livable, sustainable and environmentally sound practices.

A growing number of organizations and government entities – municipal and regional – are using or promoting community engagement because the changing housing market is moving many more communities to increase their efforts at housing creation. A wider array of housing options – smaller, denser, more affordable, energy-efficient, walkable and, if possible, close to transit – are being utilized to meet the needs of empty-nesters, young professionals and families, and workers in a region that, despite a falloff in demand, has seen rental and purchase prices remain very high.

The Partnership for Strong Communities highlighted community engagement strategies it promotes, including its new video about five very different Connecticut communities – Hamden, Old Saybrook, Colchester, Bristol and Simsbury – that have used an array of community engagement methods – charrettes, town meetings, websites and crowd-sourcing among them – to harvest ideas and achieve buy-in for their development plans.

The organization embarked on a search to discover how communities can balance multiple priorities and opinions, and achieve development that most residents can be satisfied with.  Partnership staff drove around the state and filmed interviews with about 30 individuals involved in this work.  The resulting video, along with supporting materials, reflects how five different communities with different goals, used different methods to achieve a single outcome.

International Students Are Half of UConn MBA Class of 2013

The Class of 2013 student profile for the University of Connecticut’s School of Business provides interesting insight into those going through UConn to make their mark on the business world.  The university’s website reports the stats are an indication of the program’s “success in recruiting top-notch talent from a myriad of backgrounds.”  Of particular note:

• 69% of the students are male, 31% are female
• 50% are from the United States, 50% are international students
• Among the states represented are Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin
• Among the nations represented are China, India, Japan, Serbia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S.
• The undergraduate degrees of the MBA students are 31% business, 21% humanities/social studies, 17% engineering, 11% math/physical science, 7% economics, and 2% information science/computer science.
• The average years of work experience is 5.1
• The average age is 28

The UConn School of Business was recently ranked among the Top 40 programs in North America and Top 200 worldwide for three graduate programs. The rankings were awarded by Eduniversal's Top 200 "Best Masters and MBA Worldwide" 2012-2013, which provides a global overview of the best post-graduate programs in 30 specializations in 153 countries. The programs and rankings were:

• Top 200 Best Masters in Engineering and Project Management Global Ranking:
• MSc in Business Analytics and Project Management - #35 in North America
• Top 200 Best Masters in Business and Commercial Law Global Ranking:
• MBA/JD Degree Program - #37 in North America
• Top 200 Best Masters in Executive MBA Global Ranking
• Executive MBA Program - #40 in North America

All of which are numbers and notoriety to ponder when encountering students coming and going from UConn's distinctive School of Business in downtown Hartford.

Sustainability, Green Infrastructure Advance in CT

When considering Connecticut’s progress in sustainability, green infrastructure, and green investments, a variety of statistics help to tell the story.  Among them:

• The U.S. Department of Energy considers 13 percent of Connecticut’s electricity as coming from renewable resources, ranking the state 31^st in the nation.  The majority of the renewable power comes from biomass and hydropower, as reported in the Connecticut Green Guide (www.CTGReenGuide.com).

• Connecticut’s transportation sector employees more green workers than any other industry in the state, with 8,238 green jobs.

• In the Northeast, 76 percent of companies use at least one type of green technology or practice.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most popular green methods are:

1. Energy efficiency
2. Waste reduction
3. Conserving natural resources
4. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
5. Removing pollutants from workspace
6. Generating onsite renewable energy

• Connecticut Innovations, the state’s quasi-public investment firm, currently puts 6 percent of its portfolio into clean technology start-ups.  Here’s the portfolio breakdown:

1. Information technology               49.5%
2. Bioscience                                           42%
3. Clean tech                                           6%
4. Photonics                                            2%
5. Advanced materials & other       .5%

• The U.S. Energy Information Agency reports that Connecticut ranks fifth in the nation among the states consuming the least amount of energy per capita.  The top ten:

1. Rhode Island
2. New York
3. Hawaii
4. California
5. Connecticut
6. Massachusetts
7. Arizona
8. New Hampshire
9. Florida
10. Vermont

• Connecticut leads the New England states in demand response resources – businesses and facilities that power down when electric prices and demand spikes, according to data from ISO New England.

State                                     Megawatts of Demand Response

Connecticut                        996.6

Massachusetts                  800.5

Maine                                   447

New Hampshire              183.2

Vermont                              144

Rhode Island                      140

Among the most common practices used by employers are asking employees to conserve, turn off or dimming lights, adjusting indoor temperature, and turning off equipment such as printers, copiers, and PCs).  Other steps, used less often, include shutting down production, starting emergency generation, limiting the use of elevators and escalators, and shutting down an entire plant.

Foreclosure Rate Drops Nationally, CT Better Than National Average

Foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 150,864 properties across the U.S. during January, a decrease of 7 percent from the previous month and down 28 percent from January 2012. The report - by RealtyTrac®, a leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties and real estate data - shows one in every 869 U.S. housing units with a foreclosure filing during the month, down 28 percent from a year ago to the lowest level since June 2006 — a 79-month low. Each of Connecticut’s eight counties is below the national average, and the state continues to be outside the top 10 states for the number of foreclosures, according to the U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™ for January 2013.  The prevalence of foreclosures, based on the number of housing units, was greatest in Windham, Tolland, and New Haven Counties.

The Florida foreclosure rate ranked highest among the states for the fifth month in a row. One in every 300 Florida housing units had a foreclosure filing in January — more than twice the national average. A total of 29,800 Florida properties had a foreclosure filing during the month, up 12 percent from the previous month and up 20 percent from January 2012.

With one in every 344 housing units with a foreclosure filing in January, Nevada posted the nation’s second highest foreclosure rate for the fourth consecutive month. A 32 percent month-over-month jump in scheduled foreclosure auctions helped the Illinois foreclosure rate rise to third highest among the states in January. One in every 375 Illinois housing units had a foreclosure filing during the month.

Other states with foreclosure rates among the nation’s 10 highest were Arizona (one in 501 housing units with a foreclosure filing), Georgia (one in 513 housing units), Ohio (one in 612 housing units), Washington (one in 674 housing units), California (one in 753 housing units), Indiana (one in 784 housing units), and Michigan (one in every 837 housing units).

In Connecticut, New Haven County had the largest number of foreclosures in January, with 317, followed by Hartford County with 265 and Fairfield County with 193.  Overall, Connecticut had 5,187 home foreclosures during the month, with the average foreclosure sales price of $186,405.  The county-by-county breakdown:

• Windham            51 foreclosure properties             1 in every 958 housing units
• Tolland                 52 foreclosure properties             1 in every 1,109 housing units
• New Haven        317 foreclosure properties          1 in every 1,138 housing units
• Hartford               265 foreclosure properties          1 in every 1,409 housing units
• Litchfield              57 foreclosure properties             1 in every 1,530 housing units
• New London      78 foreclosure properties             1 in every 1,546 housing units
• Fairfield                193 foreclosure properties          1 in every 1,865 housing units
• Middlesex           37 foreclosure properties             1 in every 2,013 housing units

In New Haven County, the numbers were driven by Waterbury with 84 foreclosures and New Haven with 59.  West Haven had 38 during the month.  In Hartford County, there were 44 foreclosures in New Britain, 35 in East Hartford and 26 in Manchester, according to the data provided by RealtyTrac.

Turning Guns Into Jewelry, CT Entrepreneur Helps Gun Buyback Program

Jessica Mindich is a Connecticut jewelry designer who has begun transforming recycled pistols, rifles and shotguns from Newark, N.J. – recovered in the city’s gun buyback program - into a line of fashionable bangle bracelets. The “Caliber Collection” began last fall with the melted down metal from 250 guns and bullet casings seized by the Newark Police Department. The result was a series of bracelets that embody the gun’s transformation from a destructive weapon to a powerful symbol of renewal. Jewelry for a Cause, Mindich’s business, donates 20 percent of the proceeds from each sale to the Gun Buyback Amnesty program in Newark, and recently presented a check for $20,000 to the city.

Each of the guns was processed and then released to Jewelry for a Cause by the Police Department of Newark.  Their serial numbers were tracked and are an important part of the design in each of the pieces of jewelry.  The metal from the guns and bullet casings are shredded by Sims Metal Management in Jersey City, according to The New York Times.

The name Caliber was chosen for its two meanings; the caliber of a gun and how the caliber of a city is raised when illegal guns are taken off its streets, the company's website explained.  As a reminder of their source, the Caliber cuffs and bangles are marked on the inside with the serial number from a recovered weapon and "Newark." Prices range from $150 from a basic steel cuff to $375 for brass bangle with a diamond, the Greenwich Time has reported.

A former lawyer who lives in Greenwich with her husband and two young sons, Mindich started the company in 2008. It donates 20 percent of all sales - on items including necklaces and jewelry kits for charitable fundraisers - to nonprofit organizations, local and national.

The newest initiative began, the Times reported, when Mindich ran into Newark Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, who attended Yale Law School with her husband, at a conference. They spoke about Newark’s no-questions-asked gun buyback program, which was founded in 2009 and gave up to $200 dollars for each weapon that was turned in.  The program needed an infusion of money – and the jewelry line was born, with the support of Booker and the city’s police chief.

Mindich is reportedly considering expanding the jewelry line to include other U.S. cities - no word of cities in her home state are among them.  Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford are among the Connecticut communities that regularly conduct gun buyback programs.

New Haven’s gun buyback program brought in 65 weapons and 63 weapons, including a Bushmaster .223 semiautomatic rifle similar to the one used in the Newtown shooting, on successive Saturdays last December, the New Haven Register and WTNH-TV reported. A gun buyback program that began in December in Bridgeport, Connecticut's largest city, has brought in more than 500 weapons to date, according to an Associated Press report.

CT Businesses Less Optimistic About Immediate Prospects

Business confidence in both the U.S. and Connecticut economies slumped in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to a survey released by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA).   The organization’s Quarterly Economic Survey: Fourth Quarter 2012 found that more than half (52%) of surveyed business leaders expect the state’s economy to worsen in 2013. That represents an increase of eight percentage points over the previous quarter. Just 14% thought the state economy would improve, while 34% believed conditions would remain stable.  Expectations for the national economy also dipped, with 40% of those surveyed responding pessimistically, compared with 36% last quarter. About one-quarter (24%) felt conditions would improve.

The survey, as reported by CBIA,  showed similar results to the two prior quarters, with most differences within the margin of error of the survey. Some noteworthy responses include:

• 34% of respondents expect increases in production and sales, with 21% seeing decreases, the best numbers in the survey.
• 18% see their work force expanding, while 19% expect to shed positions over the next quarter.
• 27% see an improved outlook for their firm against 22% who see conditions declining.
• For their industry, 23% see improving conditions while 28% see declines.

The third quarter rebound in business confidence--recovering from record low optimism in the April-June 2012 survey--was short-lived. And the outlook has taken a turn for the worse since the fourth quarter of 2011, when two-thirds saw improving or stable conditions in the state and 81% forecast the same for the U.S. economy.

Based on the state Department of Labor’s latest figures, Connecticut lost 1,800 jobs in December, finishing the year with a net loss of 100 jobs.  The unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a point to 8.6%. Writing in the Connecticut Economy recently, UConn economist Steven P. Lanza noted that “Connecticut’s economy will struggle to post more than nominal job gains’ in the coming months.

The Connecticut Economic Digest, in the current issue, noted that in December 2012, private sector workweek hours show Connecticut “is still firmly in slow employment recovery mode, highlighted by the hours worked month-to-month volatility.”  The publication is developed by the state Department of Labor and Department of Economic and Community Development.

CBIA’s Quarterly Economic Survey: Fourth Quarter 2012 was emailed to approximately 1,900 Connecticut businesses in January of 2013. A total of 187 responded, for a 10.2% response rate and a margin of error of +/- 7.3%.

Textbook Prices Vary Widely Between Campus Bookstore, Online Options

Seven years ago, a Connecticut Board of Governors for High Education study revealed that only 58 percent of the state’s higher education faculty were aware of the cost of the textbooks they selected for their courses.  While changes in the textbook industry, the increased availability of electronic textbooks, and the development of a textbook rental program at most institutions may have improved awareness, there are two certainties that remain.  Textbooks remain expensive at traditional college bookstores, but there are alternatives – and students are finding them. A report published this week by the student newspaper at UConn, The Daily Campus, showed the prices of a single textbook from four different retailers, and compared the purchase and rental options available to students.  The graph accompanying the story compared the price differences, from prominent retailers including the UConn Co-Op Bookstore, Amazon, Chegg and Half.com.

The textbook used for the price comparison, Introductory Chemistry Essentials (4th Ed.), is a frequent purchase among UConn undergraduates because it is a required textbook for CHEM 1122, a prerequisite for higher-level science courses.

The College Board (the organization responsible for the SAT exam, among other initiatives) has said the average student at a public four year college should expect to spend over one thousand dollars a year on textbooks and course materials. According to the American Enterprise Institute, textbook prices have increased at a faster rate than tuition.

In The Daily Campus report, to buy the textbook new and unused, the UConn Co-Op Bookstore charges $80.41 over the Amazon price, which was the second-priciest option.  The Bookstore charges $110.43 more than Half.com, the least expensive option.  As for renting the textbook, the UConn Co-Op is $45.91 more than Amazon, the second-priciest option. It costs $68.03 more than Chegg, which is the least expensive option.

It was recently reported that New York University has been experiencing an annual decline in textbook sales at its campus bookstore of about 5 percent each year since 2008, as students use less expensive alternatives to purchase books needed for their classes.

(chart prepared by The Daily Campus)

Economic Impact of CT Hospitals Highlighted in Report

Connecticut hospitals contribute $20 billion to the state and local economies, according to a report, Connecticut Hospitals: Improving Health, Strengthening Connecticut’s Economy, compiled by the Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA). According to the CHA report, Connecticut hospitals provide more than 54,000 jobs, with a total annual payroll of $5.2 billion.  Earnings by Connecticut hospital and health system employees reverberate through the community, creating an additional 55,000 jobs in the local economy.

The four-page report, which focused on the economic impact of Connecticut’s hospitals and was released in the opening weeks of the state legislative session, noted that “hospitals and health systems serve as a magnet for other healthcare businesses and a stimulus for new businesses such as retail stores, banks, grocery stores and restaurants.”

Connecticut hospitals are major employers and purchasers of goods and services, spending $9.6 billion in 2011 – funds that help to stimulate further economic growth across the state.  Goods and services purchased by hospitals, and funding spent on buildings and equipment, create additional economic value.  With these “ripple effects” included, an additional $10.4 billion is added to the Connecticut economy, resulting in a total contribution of $20 billion by Connecticut’s hospitals to the state’s economy, CHA official pointed out.

The report indicates that Connecticut hospitals treat more than 1.6 million patients in their emergency departments, bring nearly 38,000 babies into the world, and care for more than 420,000 admitted patients, providing more than 2 million days of inpatient care.

“Connecticut hospitals are a critical economic engine,” said Jennifer Jackson, President and CEO, CHA.  “They are often a community’s largest employer, stimulating jobs and attracting other businesses.  At a time when the state has never relied more on its hospitals for the safety net they provide, it is critical – both to our quality of life and economic health – that these institutions remain strong and stable.”

CHA membership includes 29 acute care hospitals and health care organizations and facilities throughout the state.  The report was issued at a time of considerable change in both the healthcare delivery and business sides of the industry, with mergers and affiliation agreements having been reached or under active consideration among industry leaders in Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, New London and elsewhere across Connecticut, as well as nationally.