More CT Employers Expect Hiring to Increase for Remainder of Year; Hartford Region Lags State

Employers in Connecticut expect to hire at a modest pace during the fourth quarter of this year, which began on October 1, according to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey. From October to December, 18 percent of Connecticut companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 7 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. Another 73 percent expect to maintain their current workforce levels and 2 percent are not certain of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 11%, which is below the national outlook projection.

“Hiring intentions are stronger compared to Q3 2017 when the Net Employment Outlook was 8%,” said ManpowerGroup spokesperson Betty Gooding. “The hiring pace is expected to remain stable compared to one year ago when the Net Employment Outlook was 12%.”

For the coming quarter, job prospects in the state appear best in Construction, Durable Goods Manufacturing, Nondurable Goods Manufacturing, Wholesale & Retail Trade, Information, Financial Activities, Professional & Business Services, Education & Health Services, Leisure & Hospitality and Other Services. Employers in Government plan to reduce staffing levels, while hiring in Transportation & Utilities is expected to remain unchanged, the survey found.

In an analysis of the largest metropolitan regions in the nation, three in Connecticut brought differing projections, with one slightly higher and the others slightly lower than overall expectations statewide.

In the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metropolitan statistical area (MSA), employers expect to hire at what is described as a “respectable pace” during this quarter, according to the Survey.  Twenty percent plan to hire more employees, which is offset by the 6 percent that plan to reduce payrolls, while 72 percent of employers expect to maintain current staff levels. Two percent indicate they are not sure of their hiring plans, which yields a Net Employment Outlook of 14% - higher than the expectation statewide.

In the New Haven-Milford MSA, 16 percent plan to hire more employees from October through December and 6 percent that plan to reduce payrolls. The Net Employment Outlook is 10%, just under the state outlook.  And in Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, 17 percent of employers plan to hire more employees, 8 percent that plan to reduce payrolls, while 70 percent expect to maintain current staff levels and 5 percent are not sure of their hiring plans. This yields a Net Employment Outlook of 9%.

Nationwide, of the more than 11,500 employers surveyed, 21 percent expect to add to their workforces, and 6 percent expect a decline in their payrolls during the final quarter of the calendar year. Seventy-one percent of employers anticipate making no change to staff levels, and the remaining 2 percent of employers are undecided about their hiring plans. When seasonal variations are removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook is 17% nationwide.

This marks the 13th consecutive quarter with an Outlook of +15% or stronger, according to Manpower Group.  Compared with this time one year ago, hiring prospects are slightly stronger in the Northeast and remain relatively stable in the other three regions.  The Northeast Region includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.  Employers across all sectors report favorable hiring intentions, with those in durable goods manufacturing reporting the strongest intentions in the past 10 years.

For the final quarter of the year, employers in Delaware, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah report the strongest Net Employment Outlooks. Among the 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas, the strongest job prospects are expected in Cape Coral, Fla.; Oxnard, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Stockton, Calif.; Deltona, Fla.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Madison, Wis. and McAllen, Texas.  The Net Employment Outlook is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity, taking into account seasonal adjustments.

Bradley Ranks Last in Passengers’ Satisfaction Rating of 21 Mid-Sized U.S. Airports

Air travelers ranked Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport last among 21 medium-sized airports in a passenger satisfaction survey.  The airport fell from a second-to-last ranking in a similar analysis done at the end of last year, to the bottom rung of the latest ratings. Sacramento International Airport ranks highest among medium airports, with a score of 810. Indianapolis International Airport (807) ranks second, and Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (806) ranks third, in the survey by J.D. Power.

Bradley’s score of 742 was an improvement from 724 last year, but did not prevent the drop to the bottom of the category.  Just ahead of Bradley were Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (754) Kahului Airport (758), and San Antonio International Airport (761).  In last year’s survey, Bradley was tied for second-to-last with Kahului; Cleveland finished last.  Both passed Bradley in the latest rankings.  The medium airport average score was 781 in the survey released this month.

Connecticut Airport Authority Executive Director Kevin Dillon told the Hartford Business Journal, "We're pleased that our score has increased from last year and that our score is the highest among competing airports in the region."  He added that “we know that there are areas that need to be addressed, such as enhancing our concessions and terminal facilities. We have already introduced a number of new concessions over the last year and have made major updates to our terminal, and we have an ambitious plan for further upgrades over the coming months and years."

Nationally, overall traveler satisfaction scored a 749 out of 1,000 points, an 18-point increase from last year’s survey.  Among the nation’s largest airports, Orlando International Airport received a score of 778 out of 1,000, beating out the runner up, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, which received a 767 score.

Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey received the lowest ranking among “Mega” airports, earning a score of 686. LaGuardia Airport, in New York City, ranked worst among “Large” airports, with a score of 654.

The survey ranked airports across the U.S. based on several key factors: accessibility, check-in and baggage check process, security screening, shopping, terminal facilities and baggage claim.

Airports were broken down into three categories based on size. “Mega” airports were defined as those handling more than 32.5 million annual passengers. The “large” category included airports with 10 million to 32.4 million passengers and “medium” airports, including Bradley, are those with between 3 million and 9.9 million passengers.

The J.D. Power analysis indicated that “with nearly every airport in the country dealing with challenges of high passenger capacity and ongoing construction projects to address increased demand, technology is helping to directly address these issues.”

“The trifecta of a steadily improving economy, record passenger volume and billion-dollar renovation projects unfolding in airports across the country has created a challenging environment for customer satisfaction,” added Michael Taylor, Travel Practice Lead at J.D. Power.

Now in its 12th year, the study is based on responses from 34,695 North American travelers who traveled through at least one domestic airport with both departure and arrival experiences (including connecting airports) during the past three months. Travelers evaluated either a departing or arriving airport from their round-trip experience. The study was conducted from January through August 2017.

New Haven Chamber Recognizes Business Success Stories, Starting with "Juice"

The annual Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce awards luncheon on Thursday, September 28  will celebrate the diverse accomplishments of members of the region’s business community – including an entrepreneurial business with the “juice” to grow from a home-based start-up in Wallingford to employ more than 120 people in New Haven in less than a decade. The company - FreshBev LLC - produces two primary lines of beverages - RIPE Craft Juice and RIPE Craft Bar Juices, bringing real fresh juice to the market, and connecting local farmers to consumers by using only ingredients that could be traced back to the grower and region.

“We don’t heat our juice, we don’t pasteurize it. It’s cold-pressed,” founder Michel Boissy told NewsChannel 8 earlier this year. “We use an amazing new technology called high-pressure processing, which does everything that pasteurization does minus the heat. So we’re not heating the juice, we’re not killing the color, flavor, aroma, nutritional profile and all of what fresh juice is.”

The company’s website explains that “In the fall of 2008, tired of being subjected to the big ol’ bottle of day glow “margarita” mix, childhood friends and founders Michel Boissy and Ryan Guimond came to the conclusion that they had no choice but to create the first line of legit, handcrafted bar juices. With Mike's experience in high end kitchens and behind the bar, coupled with Ryan’s picky palate and a shared love of a good cocktail, these drink mix mercenaries set forth to create the nation's first pure squeezed, cold pressed, Bar Juice™.

The results are making local history, and spreading.  RIPE Craft Juices are available nationally through Whole Foods and select regional grocery chains.

The Chamber’s business leadership event is highlighted by the presentation of the Community Leadership Award to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the Greater New Haven Community.   That award will go to longtime Quinnipiac University President John Lahey, who has announced his retirement.  The other awards to be presented by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce include:

Small Business Achievement Award  Four Flours Baking Company

Legislative Leadership Award   First Selectman Mike Freda, Town of North Haven

Achievement in Manufacturing Award  Cowles & Company

Leadership in Healthcare Award  Cornell Scott-Hill Center

Community Partnership Award  Easter Seals Goodwill Industries

Developer Investment Award  Randy Salvatore, RMS Companies

Alumnus of the Leadership Center Award  Paul Bartosic, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care

Volunteer of the Year Award  Mary Grande, New Reach

The awards will be presented on September 28 at the Omni Hotel in New Haven.

https://youtu.be/X56KIS8TEd0

Personal Finance, Economic Education Curriculum Not Required in State's Schools

Connecticut has a curriculum for financial literacy for schools in the state.  But they’re not required to use it.  That’s true for economic education and personal finance education.  Despite having a 9-page state approved set of curriculum guidelines and expectations for student learning detailed on the website of the State Department of Education, there appears to be no indication as to where or whether courses are actually offered, taken and taught. Economic Education is included in the state’s K-12 standards in Connecticut, as it is in every state in the nation.  But Connecticut is one of only six states where the standards are not required to be implemented by districts, one of 27 states where a high school course is not required to be offered, one of 30 states where a high school course is not required to be taken, and one of 34 where standardized testing in the subject is not provided.

The numbers are similar for personal finance education.  Connecticut is one of 13 states that does not require standards to be implemented by local school districts, one of 28 states that does not require a high school course to be offered, and one of 28 that do not require a high school course in personal finance education to be taken. Connecticut, like most states (43) does not have standardized testing in personal finance.

That’s according to the Council for Economic Education’s “Survey of the States 2016,” a report on “Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation’s Schools.”  Among the national findings:

• While more states are implementing standards in personal finance, the number of states that require high school students to take a course in personal finance remains unchanged since 2014 – just 17 states.
• Only 20 states require high school students to take a course in economics – that’s less than half the country and two fewer states than in 2014.
• There has been no change in the number of states that require standardized testing of economic concepts – the number remains at 16.

Connecticut’s seven “content standards” in personal finance focus on personal decision making, earning and reporting income, managing finances and budgeting, savings and investing, buying goods and services, banking and financial institutions, and maintaining credit worthiness, borrowing at favorable terms and managing debt.  The “frameworks” outline skills that students are expected to master, and “learner expectations” at various levels, from beginning to advanced.

“Some states offer little guidance to school districts related to what personal finance content to offer in schools at each grade level; others have pushed ahead, requiring courses from elementary to high school aged students, supporting and training teachers, and in some cases even testing students on learning outcomes,” said J. Michael Collins, of the Center for Financial Security at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the report.

“Rigorous state standards can facilitate local schools to implement well-designed programs, which in turn expose students to concepts they otherwise would not learn. Communities may also benefit from having more financially competent households; perhaps stronger economics and personal finance standards could even be viewed ultimately as an economic development strategy, equipping young people with an increased ability to manage credit and invest in their future,” Collins added.

Statistics were not available in Connecticut on the number of school districts requiring financial literacy coursework, or the number of students who take such classes.

"States that combine personal finance and economics, support teachers, and hold students accountable for learning objectives have the best chance of promoting the development of young people who are better financial managers and stewards of their credit—behaviors with which many, if not most, young people tend to struggle," Collins pointed out.

The Council for Economic Education (CEE) is a leading nonprofit organization in the United States that focuses on the economic and education of students from kindergarten through high school.  The 65 year-old organization is based in New York City.

CT Ranked 36th in Construction Jobs Added During Past Year

Connecticut ranked 36^th in the nation in the number of construction jobs added between July 2016 and July 2017, one of 36 states (and the District of Columbia) that added construction jobs during the 12-month period. The analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data found that firms in parts of the country that build infrastructure projects are seeing less demand for their services amid overall declines in public-sector spending. Only 100 construction jobs were added in Connecticut during the past year, moving the states employment level in construction industries from 58,800 to 58,900, reflecting growth of two-tenths of one percent.

“Despite growing private-sector demand, it appears that construction employment in some parts of the country is being brought down by declining public-sector investments,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association.  “Some of these declines will be offset thanks to recently enacted state infrastructure funding increases, but stagnant federal investments are not helping.”

Among the New England states, Rhode Island ranked third in the nation, with a 12-month gain of 12.7 percent, New Hampshire ranked fourth with 11.8 percent growth in construction jobs, and Maine ranked sixth, with a 9.3 percent increase.

California added the most construction jobs (51,000 jobs, 6.6 percent) during the past year. Other states adding a high number of new construction jobs for the past 12 months include Florida (35,800 jobs, 7.5 percent); Louisiana (13,900 jobs, 9.8 percent); Oregon (11,900 jobs, 13.2 percent) and Texas (10,400 jobs, 1.5 percent). Oregon added the highest percentage of new construction jobs during the past year, followed by Nevada (12.8 percent, 9,700 jobs).

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia shed construction jobs between July 2016 and July 2017 while construction employment was unchanged in North Dakota. Iowa lost the highest number of construction jobs  (-4,400 jobs, -5.4 percent), followed by Illinois (-4,300 jobs, -2.0 percent) and North Carolina (-2,500 jobs, -1.2 percent).  South Dakota lost the highest percentage for the year (-5.6 percent, -1,400 jobs) followed by Iowa and Mississippi (-3.9 percent, -1,700 jobs).

Association officials have continued to urge Congress and the administration to make needed new investments in the country’s aging infrastructure to offset declining public-sector investments in construction. In particular, they urged officials to consider including new infrastructure investments as part of a tax reform measures expected this fall, the association indicated in a news release.

PEZ Dispenser and Whiffle Ball Named Finalists for National Toy Hall of Fame

Two Connecticut natives are being considered for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame.  The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. has announced its twelve finalists for this year’s induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame, and the Wiffle Ball – invented and still manufactured in Shelton –  and the PEZ Candy Dispenser  - still the pride of Orange - are among them. The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, announced the 12 finalists for induction into the hall: Clue, Magic 8 Ball, Matchbox Cars, My Little Pony, paper airplane, PEZ Candy Dispenser, play food, Risk, sand, Transformers, Uno, and Wiffle Ball.

EZ emerged first as a breath mint in 1927, but in 1948, the creators turned it into a candy and added a small, mechanical box to dispense the PEZ bricks. The dispensers featured pop-culture characters, making them both a plaything and collectible. PEZ sells three billion individuals candies each year and keeps about 60 or 70 dispensers in production—such as Batman, Mickey Mouse, and Wonder Woman.

PEZ Candy is manufactured in Orange, Connecticut by PEZ CANDY, INC. and marketed through supermarkets, mass merchandisers, variety stores, drug stores, convenience stores, toy chains and gift stores throughout the U.S. and Canada; available around the world in more than 80 countries.

Whiffle ball? It all began in the summer of 1953, when David N. Mullany, grandfather of the current company owners (brothers David and Stephen) was watching his 12 year old son and a friend play a game in their backyard in Fairfield, using a perforated plastic golf ball and a broomstick handle. They had given up on baseball and softball – not enough players for two teams, not enough space for a field, and too many broken windows.

After some trial and error, Wiffle Ball’s inventors determined that a ball with eight oblong slots cut into one hemisphere worked best at grabbing the air and diverting the trajectory. Pitchers then could easily throw curves, sliders, or even difficult knuckle balls, and the rest is history – perhaps Hall of Fame worthy history. Even with the abundance of toys and rapidly expanding new technology available to today’s youth, the Wiffle Ball business remains strong, with millions manufactured in Shelton and distributed world-wide every year.

The National Toy Hall of Fame receives thousands of nominations annually. Whiffle Ball was nominated, but not selected, in 2015.  The final 2017 toy inductees, chosen on the advice of a national selection advisory committee, will be announced at The Strong museum on Thursday, November 9.  Only two or three of these finalists will join other iconic toys in the hall and sit alongside past inductees such as Barbie, LEGO, Monopoly, Rubik’s Cube, and Star Wars action figures.

The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have engaged and delighted multiple generations, inspiring them to learn, create, and discover through play. Criteria for induction include: Icon-status (the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered); Longevity (the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations); Discovery (the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play); and Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).

To date, the following 63 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame: alphabet blocks, Atari 2600 Game System, baby doll, ball, Barbie, bicycle, Big Wheel, blanket, bubbles, Candy Land, cardboard box, checkers, chess, Crayola Crayons, dollhouse, dominoes, Duncan Yo-Yo, Dungeons & Dragons, Easy-Bake Oven, Erector Set, Etch A Sketch, Fisher-Price Little People, Frisbee, G.I. Joe, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, hula hoop, jack-in-the-box, jacks, jigsaw puzzle, jump rope, kite, LEGO, Lincoln Logs, Lionel Trains, little green army men, marbles, Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head, Nintendo Game Boy, Play-Doh, playing cards, puppet, Radio Flyer Wagon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, rocking horse, roller skates, rubber duck, Rubik’s Cube, Scrabble, Silly Putty, skateboard, Slinky, Star Wars action figures, stick, Super Soaker, swing, teddy bear, Tinkertoy, Tonka Trucks, Twister, and View-Master.

New Haven's “SeeClickFix” Selected by National Mag, Set to Host User Summit as Hurricane Residents Use Service

When Fast Company magazine developed a feature article entitled “United States of Innovation” for its most recent issue, they selected one business in each state to highlight.  Connecticut’s representative was SeeClickFix, a New Haven-based business that began a decade ago with a basic premise and has expanded steadily since. As Fast Company described it:  “A Help Desk for Citizens – New Haven resident Ben Berkowitz created the SeeClickFix app to allow locals to quickly report non-emergency issues (broken meters and streetlights, potholes, and even excessive noise from ice-cream trucks).  Officials can track, manage and reply within the app.  It has since expanded to some 300 municipalities across the country.”

There have been a total of more than 3 million “issues fixed” according to the SeeClickFix website, in communities including Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Petersburg, Detroit, Oakland, Albany, Albuquerque, Washington, D.C. Of particular interest this during the past two weeks - SeeClickFix in numerous Florida communities, and in Houston.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the efforts with Houston instantly intensified.  Berkowitz said SeeClickFix has worked with the city of Houston and several of its neighboring suburbs since 2009, handling an estimated 30,000 residents.  Those numbers will likely jump when the totals for 2017 are tallied.  Berkowitz told CTNewsJunkie that will be especially true in the coming weeks as operations shift from emergency calls handled by police and other emergency personnel to calls that are SeeClickFix specialties, such as power outages, downed trees and other types of “more routine” assistance.

In Florida, St. Petersburg is among the 10 communities with SeeClickFix in operation, and the site is filled with reports of downed trees, storm debris, broken water mains, non-working street lights, and other hazards, with many accompanied by photos illustrating the danger or dilemma.  Other communities include Pinellas County (which includes Clearwater), Seminole, Gainsville, and Venice, which signed on a year ago.

The company’s website continues to proudly boast “Made in New Haven” and Berkowitz’ company profile explains “The inspiration for SeeClickFix came from a desire to improve his own community with his neighbors and his government.”

Even before the hurricane in Houston this year, the company's growth has continued, with the first city in Kentucky signing on recently, and communities in Georgia and Michigan also added.  A workshop, with municipal attendees from more than 80 communities, was held in Detroit.  Next, a SeeClickFix User Summit is scheduled for September 13 & 14 in New Haven.

Fast Company summed up “50 projects that are really making America great again” noting that “Change doesn’t have to happen from the top down” as the publication highlights “some of the most promising projects, initiatives, and companies that are springing up in every state of the union. Together, they present a portrait of the country today—its concerns and responses, and its enduring capacity for progress.”

State’s Money Woes Earn National Spotlight

The cover of the national magazine depicts a waterfront home in Mystic Seaport, under the headline that reads “The fiscal mess in America’s richest state.”  Connecticut, without an approved state budget for all of July and August and nearly half of September, is earning some notice.  And it is not particularly friendly. The article, in the September issue of Governing, begins with the question, “How could the nation’s wealthiest state become a fiscal basket case?”  The answer is complex, and the magazine devotes a full six pages to walking through how the state got into this mess, and how it might navigate its way out.

Along the way, the magazine suggest that the state “may be too rich for its own good,” pointing out that “long blessed with a disproportionate number of high-income residents, the state has entertained lavish spending habits for decades.” It also cites statistics that underscore the problems and challenges:

• Over the past 20 years, job creation numbers have ranked in the bottom five among the 50 states
• Connecticut has the nation’s second-highest rate of income inequality, after New York
• The state has lost population for three years running
• Last year, Greater Hartford ranked fourth and New Haven fifth in population loss among the nation’s 100 largest metro areas

The ineffective state spending cap, approved by voters more than 20 years ago but routinely circumvented since, is cited as a contributor to the fiscal cliff the state sits on, along with an overreliance on the income tax, political infighting, increased taxes, the lack of regionalism and a host of other decisions made by Governors and legislatures for decades.

One glaring example cited:  “Connecticut, which is home to 3.6 million people, has 111 police dispatch centers.  By comparison, Houston, which as 2.3 million residents, has just one emergency dispatch center, which handles fire as well as police.”

With a circulation of 85,000 in print and a widely viewed website, Governing is described as "the nation's leading media platform covering politics, policy and management for state and local government leaders." It is among the most widely read and most influential among government leaders - with an audience that also includes "journalists, academics, advocates and activists."

The article did point to some silver linings, past and present.  “Connecticut clearly has the means to change course. Not only is its median income still high, but the state boasts assets such as proximity to Boston and New York, amiable coastlines and river valleys, and notable institutions of higher education.  In addition to the continuing presence of a thriving financial sector, Connecticut is home to aerospace and defense contractors and other advanced manufacturers who can’t hire help fast enough, as well as a growing medical and life sciences sector.”

On the other hand, the publication points out, “Connecticut is 80 percent white, but its population of white children under the age of 10 is falling faster than in any other state.  Racial and ethnic minorities already make up more than 50 percent of infants and toddlers and are about to become a majority of 3- and 4-year olds.”  There is, the publication adds, “a pronounced achievement gap among racial groups and by geography.”

The conclusion reached by the Governing article?  “Connecticut is not in a death spiral but it has failed to position itself to react to changing demographics and location preferences… it’s clear that what’s worked so well for Connecticut in the past isn’t working now.”

Summed up House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, one of many political leaders, including the Governor and legislators from both political parties, as well as city officials and economic analysts, who were interviewed for the article: “We are the land of steady habits and the world has changed around us.”

NY Settlement with Outlet Mall Owner Eliminates Non-Compete Extending into Southwestern Connecticut

Most Connecticut residents are likely unfamiliar with Woodbury Common, an outlet mall in the town of Central Valley in Orange County, New York brimming with 240-plus retailers.  Due to a contract provision with those retailers that prevented them from opening another location within a 60 mile radius of Woodbury Common, however, the impact of that mall may have been felt throughout southwestern Connecticut for decades. A settlement in pending litigation reached between the New York Attorney General’s Office and Simon Property Group (SPG), owner of Woodbury Common, and announced late last month, could open the door to new retail outlet opportunities in Southern and Western Connecticut – regions that had long been under the restrictions.

"No business should be allowed to stifle an entire industry at the expense of consumers—but for years, that's exactly what Simon Property Group did to New Yorkers," said New York Attorney General Schneiderman. "Simon's anticompetitive conduct blocked competition and drove up prices for New York consumers. That ends today. I am pleased this agreement will allow for new shopping outlets to finally open within New York City, and make affordable shopping more accessible for residents across the region."

While Schneiderman focused on New York, the possible consumer benefits from the agreement extend further.  The region under the now-eliminated restrictions extends beyond New York into Connecticut, including much of Fairfield County – including Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury and Bridgeport - and extending nearly into New Haven.  (The straight line distance from Central Valley, NY to New Haven is 62 miles; to Milford is 55 miles.)

In a press release, Simon said Woodbury Common's 60 mile radius provision has been used since 1985, well before SPG acquired Woodbury Common as part of its 2004 acquisition of Chelsea Property Group. The statement pointed out that Woodbury's radius provisions have been upheld as lawful, reasonable and consistent with industry practice in the courts, as recent as 2010.

“While we have agreed to reduce the reach of the radius provisions in Woodbury Common leases, these provisions will continue to cover Woodbury Common's essential trade area, extending to all of Manhattan,” the company noted.

Simon Property Group described Woodbury Common as “an economic engine for Orange County, the lower Hudson Valley, and New York State,” indicating that “it regularly granted exceptions to radius provisions and understands the importance of competition and consumer choice in the market.”  In Connecticut, SPG operates two properties in southeastern Connecticut - Clinton Crossing Premium Outlet in Clinton and Crystal Mall in Waterford.

Reached via the New York State Thruway at exit 16 in Harriman, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets features “the most sought after, high-end fashion and designer retail brands in the world,” SPG said in its news release, highlighting stores including Tory Burch, Nike, Celine, Bottega Veneta, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Burberry, Coach, and The North Face.

As part of the settlement, Simon Property agreed to revise their existing leases with Woodbury Common retailers to remove the radius restrictions; not to engage in exclusionary tactics, including radius restrictions, for the next 10 years; and pay a $945,000 fine to New York State.

Even as negotiations proceeded on the settlement, Woodbury Common announced last month that 10 new retailers would be opening at the premium outlet mall, including Zadig & Voltaire, a high-end French ready-to-wear brand, and Sayki, a Turkish menswear designer.  The outlet mall also recently completed extensive multi-million dollar renovations. Simon Property Group, based in Indianapolis, owns nearly 100 outlet malls around the world and is an S&P 100 company.

Women in Manufacturing Bring Summit to Hartford Next Week

The 800-member Women in Manufacturing (WiM) professional organization will hold their annual Summit at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, September 13 - 15, 2017. This annual Summit is geared toward women who have chosen careers in manufacturing and want to share perspectives and network with others in the industry. It is expected to attract more than 300 professional women in manufacturing, with titles ranging from production to CEO. Attracting hundreds of women in manufacturing from across the country, WiM's annual Summit is the only national conference of its kind. This networking and educational event features manufacturing plant tours, professional development tracks, industry roundtables, keynote presentations and social events to expand participants' networks.

Plant tours that have been organized as part of the conference agenda include visits to Kaman Corporation, CNC Software, Hartford Flavor Company, TRUMPF Inc., and Pratt & Whitney, all on the opening day of the conference on September 13.

Break-out sessions will focus on Technology, Leadership & Professional Development, Operational Excellence, and Diversity & Inclusion.  Speakers at conference-wide sessions will discuss topics including “Engineering Young Women,” “Developing Your Personal Brand,” “Recruiting A Pipeline for Skilled Labor Positions,” “Empowering Women Through Sales,” and “The growing Digital Intensity of Manufacturing.”

Speakers will include Jonna Gerken, Manager, PCME Group, Pratt & Whitney and the president of the Society of Women Engineers, and George Saiz, President & CEO of The Association for Manufacturing Excellence.

The Board Chair of Women in Manufacturing is Sheila LaMothe, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Goyer Management International, a Florida-based company.  Previously, she spent 15 years responsible for the marketing and public relations activities for TRUMPF Inc. in Farmington, CT, initially serving as Marketing Manager before becoming Associate Director of Marketing & Public Relations. She founded the WiM Connecticut Chapter and served as chapter chair until her relocation to Florida.

Among the host committee members is the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.  The New Haven Manufacturers Association and the Waterbury Regional Chamber’s Manufacturer’s Council are among the Supporting Partners for the Summit.

This is the organization’s first summit to be held in the Northeast.  The Summit location moves around the country giving attendees the opportunity to experience manufacturing and develop their networks throughout the United States.  The  6^th annual summit was held last year in Nashville, TN.  Previous events were held in Minneapolis, MN; Schaumburg, IL; Dearborn, MI; Milwaukee, WI; and Cleveland, OH.