Economic Impact of Travelers Championship Doubles in Past Six Years, Analysis Finds; 2017 Tournament is PGA Tour’s Best

The Travelers Championship has an annual economic impact on the state of $68.2 million, according to a recent study by Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc.(CERC)  – and the recognition of its success is not only local, but national.  The tournament has been selected by the PGA tour as recipient of the prestigious “Tournament of the Year” award for 2017. The Travelers Championship also won awards for “Most Fan-Friendly Event,” “Best Sales” and the inaugural “Players Choice.” CERC first conducted an impact analysis of the tournament in 2011, and completed another impact analysis for the Travelers Championship in 2017.  The results were compared, to look at the changes over time and factors that may have influenced changes in the tournament’s economic effects.

The results: The economic impact had more than doubled between 2011 and 2017, due to two primary factors; a much larger total number of spectators, especially the increased number of individuals from outside the state, and increased spending by the tournament in preparing for and administering the increased number of events that occur during the tournament week.

“The Tournament activities and events, along with all of its associated events throughout the year has grown substantially over the past few years, which has resulted in a large increase in the number of spectators from Connecticut and beyond its borders,” said Alissa DeJonge, Vice President of Research, CERC. “Attendance increased dramatically, which increased spending at the event and among the local businesses.”

With record attendance, sales and fan engagement, the 2017 Travelers Championship raised the bar across the board through a strategic approach that focused on providing a first-class experience for fans, players, sponsors, volunteers and charity, officials pointed out. This marks the first time that the Travelers Championship has been recognized as “Tournament of the Year.”

The Travelers Championship, which donates 100 percent of its net proceeds to charity, announced last month that the 2017 tournament generated $1.72 million for more than 165 local charities, including The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the primary beneficiary of this summer’s tournament. With approximately 4,000 volunteers worked over 80,000 hours.

It is the largest core amount raised in the history of the tournament, officials pointed out. The record-setting 2017 total brings the total money generated to $14.7 million since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007. More than 750 charities have received funds from the tournament over that time.

“We’re proud of the partnerships we’ve built with local organizations that need help,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube. “Handing out these checks to so many worthy charities is the highlight of our year. We won’t forget the week we had at TPC River Highlands, with Jordan Spieth winning in such dramatic fashion and the celebration that ensued. But knowing that more than $1.7 million is being given to such a wide spectrum of nonprofits this year reminds us why we do this. It inspires us.”

As the “Most Fan-Friendly Event,” the tournament provided options for fans of all ages, including affordable access, more than 18 food and beverage locations, fan and kid zones and public on-site concerts. The tournament increased fan engagement by 441 percent through creative video and dynamic content, and following Spieth’s thrilling hole-out to win, the tournament handle trended on Twitter for nearly four hours and the video reached YouTube’s front page within 24 hours.

The tournament continued to enhance the player and caddie experience, providing a complimentary charter flight from the preceding event, healthy food options and a variety of special features including caddie appreciation day, a performance by Kevin Nealon and multiple off-site events. To determine the new “Players Choice” category, TOUR players were asked to vote for one event based on tournament services, hospitality, player and family amenities, community support and attendance.

“We work hard on making sure everyone who attends or participates in our event has a world-class experience, so no detail toward that goal is too small,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers. “We are proud to associate our brand with the PGA Tour and this event, and are honored by this tremendous recognition. The best part is that any success we have means more money and attention raised for so many local charities that partner with the tournament.”

The 2018 Travelers Championship, will be held June 18-24 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers; Sarah Ficenec and Bob Santy, CERC; Nathan Grube, Tournament Director at Travelers Championship; and Alissa DeJonge, CERC

CT's Mattress Recycle Program Collecting 14,000 Per Month

Connecticut mattress recycling program collected more than 162,000 mattresses and diverted more than 2,300 tons of material from disposal during the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to a recently released report on the state's program. The mattress industry created the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), a non-profit organization, in 2013 to develop and administer a recycling program, which was dubbed the Bye Bye Mattress Program.  It is  funded through a $9 fee collected from consumers on all mattress and box spring sales in the state.

The program officially began operating on May 1, 2015 in accordance with a new state law. It now averages recycling 14,000 mattresses a month. MRC collects mattresses from 125 communities and 169 public and private entities that dispose of large volumes of discarded mattresses.

On average, 70 percent of a mattress is recycled.  Officials are pushing to increase that percentage to 75 percent.  Program materials suggest that 80 percent of a mattress can be recycled.  In the program’s first two years, a total of 313,661 mattresses were collected for recycling.

Among the leading municipalities, according to the 54-page report:  Hartford - 336 tons, Bridgeport - 197 tons, Manchester - 138 tons, East Hartford - 84 tons, and Southington - 62 tons.

MRC’s education and outreach efforts are designed to inform consumers, mattress retailers, and other stakeholders about the Bye Bye Mattress Program, that the fee is mandated by state law, why the fee is needed, what the fee funds, how to recycle through the Program, and that some parties have obligations.

In addition to Connecticut, MRC operates programs in Rhode Island and California.

Among the many locations across making use of the program is the Naval Submarine Base in New London.  The Base used the program to assist with the recycling and transportation of 692 mattresses from barracks, submarines, and Navy hotel lodging facilities connected to the Base. MRC collected mattresses from the Base in New London three times during the fiscal year.

Despite the program’s achievements to date, one objective is not being met.  Based on MRC’s experience during the past two years, the report points out, it became clear that the healthcare facility goal was “impractical.”

Mattresses discarded by healthcare facilities are not recycled for two primary reasons: biological contamination and mattress residual value, according to the report. In addition, a strong secondary markets exist for specialty hospital mattresses discarded by healthcare facilities. As a result, discarded units are frequently resold domestically or exported, the report explained.

“Therefore, those units are not being landfilled or incinerated in Connecticut and are not available for recycling. Furthermore, healthcare mattresses with breached outer ticking or physical contamination may pose health risks, and are instead disposed of as solid or biological waste due to liability concerns,” the report points out.

https://youtu.be/L9QMPy4VT_Y

Please Grow Up to Be An Entrepreneur, Parents Say; Teens Not So Sure

Nearly nine-in-ten parents (88%) would be extremely or very likely to support their teen's interest in becoming an entrepreneur as an adult, but less than one-in-three teens (30%) demonstrate that same level of enthusiasm for starting a business. That’s according to a new national survey conducted by ORC International on behalf of Junior Achievement (JA) and EY. For teens, the greatest concerns for starting a business include it being "too risky" (31%) and "not enough money in it" (22%). Only 16 percent of teens indicate they have no concerns about trying. Conversely, 53 percent of parents have no concerns about their teen starting a business as an adult. Those citing concerns focused on it being "too risky" (27%) and there being "not enough money in it" (9%).

The survey was released during November, which is National Entrepreneurship Month.

"These results speak to some of the challenges facing the nation when it comes to business creation," said Jack Kosakowski, President and CEO of Junior Achievement USA. "Since the Great Recession in 2008, the country has been experiencing a net decline in business start-ups. Today's young people grew up in the shadow of the Financial Crisis, which may explain their risk-aversion when it comes to taking the entrepreneurial leap. This is why we need to promote the benefits of entrepreneurship early and often."

The survey was conducted to coincide with EY's support of Junior Achievement's JA Launch Lesson, a program delivered by community entrepreneurs whereby high school students gain firsthand knowledge about starting a business and the entrepreneurial journey. JA Launch Lesson is a 50-minute educational experience that creates a point-of-entry for students, volunteers, and educators.

The new program will be delivered by entrepreneurs in classrooms, after-school facilities, and other student venues across the United States, beginning this month. Entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to connect with students, provide relevant information about their company and entrepreneurial journey, and share advice and next steps for students who are interested in starting their own business.

Teens were also asked what they would need in order to consider becoming an entrepreneur. About half said they would need "more information on what it takes to be successful" (51%), "investors" (50%) and "support from parents" (49%). About a third said they would need "a role model who is a business owner" (35%) and "friends with a similar interest" (32%).

Promoting entrepreneurship is not a new endeavor for JA Southwest New England, which last year reached 43,000 students, the second consecutive year reaching the most students in the history of the organization, and a 24% increase over two year period.

In Connecticut this year, JA worked with Pratt & Whitney to launch the JA Entrepreneurial Academy.  The after-school program taught students firsthand about manufacturing and entrepreneurship, to better prepare them to join the workforce and perhaps plan their own companies with this insider knowledge.

Jeremy Race, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest New England, said “Through this program, young people gain a deeper understanding of how businesses are founded and operate…to help free the entrepreneurial spirit and hopefully serve as a catalyst for future business growth in Connecticut.”

In addition to manufacturing- related entrepreneurship, the academy also introduced students to an array of other entrepreneurial skills including leadership and how to pitch a business concept. Volunteers from both Goodwin College and Pratt & Whitney worked with the students to show how lessons learned in the classroom are deployed in the real world, and how the value of experience added to education makes for unequaled talent.

Also this past spring, JA Southwest New England partnered with the Junior League of Hartford for the third consecutive year to implement the JA Career Connections for Young Women program.  It is an intensive after-school curriculum, bringing together a handful of high school students from the Greater Hartford area to undergo ten sessions that are aimed at providing young women with practical advice and wisdom about the world of work, from how to get hired to learning about their own personal brand.

Students hear first-hand from female professionals on how to develop valuable soft skills, gain confidence on the job, perfect their public speaking skills and the do’s and don’ts of a job interview.  They also identify a career cluster of interest and, in groups, visit a job site in that chosen field, getting an opportunity to imagine their future selves at work.

The new JA Launch Lesson in another initiative aimed to sharing the how-to of entrepreneurship and business with young students.

"Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind growth and positive change, and at EY we believe it is vital to help enable our future generation of innovators," said Randy Cain, Vice Chair and Southwest Region Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, and JA USA board member. "Creative, hands-on programs such as JA Launch Lesson are critical to providing our youth with the tools, information and resources necessary to succeed when starting their own business."

This report presents the findings of surveys conducted among a sample of 1,007 parents of children ages 13-17 and a sample of 1,005 13-17-year-olds.  The surveys were live nationwide, October 3-8, 2017.

Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in 109 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.6 million students served by operations in 100 other countries worldwide. JA Southwest New England, which includes much of Connecticut, is at www.jaconn.org

The Difference A Dollar Makes: UConn Research Finds Minimum Wage Increase Reduces Maltreatment of Children

It has been nearly a year since a study co-authored by UConn Assistant Professor of Public Policy Kerri M. Raissian appeared in the academic journal Children and Youth Services Review, but the interest hasn’t waned.  In fact, it now tops the list of downloaded articles in the past 90 days from the journal’s website. The article, which Raissian co-authored with Lindsey Rose Bullinger, asks – and answers – this question:  Does the minimum wage affect child maltreatment rates?

Short answer, according to their research:  yes. 

Raising the minimum wage by $1 per hour would result in a substantial decrease in the number of reported cases of child neglect, according to a study co-authored by Raissian and Bullinger.  They reviewed eleven years of records on child abuse and neglect and found that increases in the minimum wage correlate with declining child maltreatment rates.

A $1 increase would result in 9,700 (9.6 percent) fewer reported cases of child neglect annually as well as a likely decrease in cases of physical abuse, Bullinger explained on the website sciencedaily.com, where their study was featured earlier this year. This decline is concentrated among young children (ages 0–5) and school-aged children (ages 6–12); the effect diminishes among adolescents and is not significant, the study’s abstract points out.

“Our results suggest that policies that increase incomes of the working poor can improve children's welfare, especially younger children, quite substantially,” the authors conclude in their 70-page article on the study.

"Money matters," Bullinger noted on sciencedaily.com. "When caregivers have more disposable income, they're better able to provide a child's basic needs such as clothing, food, medical care and a safe home. Policies that increase the income of the working poor can improve children's welfare, especially younger children, quite substantially."

More than 30 states had minimum wages exceeding the federal requirement by an average of $1 during the study period, allowing the researchers to track changes in the number of reports to child protective service agencies with increases in the minimum wage.  Data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System was used in the research.

The substantial decrease in child neglect cases is concentrated among toddlers and school-age children, but changes in the minimum wage had little impact on reports of neglect of teenagers. The researchers found no variation based on a child's race.

“Families with low incomes have a great ability to make a dollar go a long way. On average, the weekly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) food stamp benefit for a family of three is about $30. That’s about what a one dollar an hour minimum wage increase translates into for full-time workers. Other studies show that a $1,000 tax refund results in similar declines in child maltreatment – neglect, specifically. So for really low-income families that probably have pretty severe material deprivation or economic hardship, that extra dollar can make a really big difference,” Raissian told UConn Today.

Raissian’s research interests are linked by a common focus on child and family policy, according to the university’s website.  Her dissertation, “Assessing the Role and Impact of Public Policy on Child and Family Violence,” evaluated the efficacy of policies designed to reduce violence directed towards intimate partners, children, and other family members. Her professional background includes nearly 10 years of government and nonprofit sector experience, which focused on serving abused adults and children.

Bullinger is associate instructor in the school of public and environmental affairs at Indiana University at Bloomington.  Both attended Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

“Most of the states don’t have a minimum wage at or above $10; Connecticut does. It’s possible Connecticut may be at the threshold,” Raissian said in an interview featured in UConn Today. “It’s also really important to note that, while our study looks at the minimum wage, this could really be an income story – remember other studies find similar results when incomes are increased in other ways. Our very low-income families might be facing other reductions in their incomes that will be costly to us as a state. We should consider that, moving forward.”

Done Deal: Upstate New York Will be Home to Northeast’s First Legoland

The bricks have fallen into place, and Legoland will be coming to upstate New York in 2020.  Despite local opposition groups, a change in the preferred host community, and two years of uncertainty, United Kingdom-based Merlin Entertainment has announced that the third Legoland in the United States and the first in the Northeast will be built in Goshen, New York.  The site is just an hour or two from most parts of Connecticut and 60 miles north of Manhattan. There are no indications that Connecticut was ever seriously considered for the theme amusement park.  Currently, there are two operating Legoland locations in the U.S., in California and Florida. 

The $500-million amusement park and hotel are scheduled to be built on 500 acres right off Route 17 near exit 125 in Orange County, New York.  Legoland anticipates generating $283-million in taxes for Orange County over 30 years, more than 1,000 jobs at the park and 800 for construction.

In 2015, Merlin Entertainment had tried to build in a nearby community, but the plan fell through.  They next turned to Goshen, a small community with a population of just over 5,000. New York will support the project by investing $18 million, according to published reports, improving the current road infrastructure, upgrading traffic signals and building a bridge over Route 17. The project will also receive $7.1 million in grants through the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative and $8 million through the Upstate Revitalization Initiative.

The timing of the announcement followed a planning board vote in October, approving an umbrella resolution for its site plan, and permits to clear and grade the land. The review process took 17 months. The proposed Legoland theme park in Goshen had cleared a major hurdle in September when the Town Board amended Goshen’s comprehensive plan to allow commercial entertainment. A year ago, the plan was in doubt due to a variety of concerns raised locally, from traffic to environment to history.

“We have spent a lot of time building relationships in the community, listening and responding to concerns, and we are looking forward to building a theme park that will enhance the community and be a tremendous neighbor,” said Merlin Entertainments Chief Executive Officer Nick Varney. “I am honored to announce Legoland New York is officially moving forward.”

Merlin Entertainments, the developer of Legoland in New York, is one of the largest entertainment company operating in Europe, operating 123 attractions in 24 countries across four continents. About 2 million visitors annually are projected for Legoland New York, with the facility to be open each year from April 1 through Halloween.

The design of the New York location will build upon parks operating in California, Florida, the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, Denmark, Dubai and Japan, where the most recent Legoland debuted.

Charter, Henkel Select Connecticut for Growth, With Some Help from the State

Charter Communications has 92,000 employees worldwide.  The company’s headquarters is in Stamford.  Henkel employs 50,000 people worldwide.  The company’s world headquarters is in Dusseldorf, Germany; their Consumer Goods R&D Headquarters is in Stamford.  Both companies have announced major growth in the city, bringing jobs and boosting the economy in the region. They are the flipside of Aetna, Alexion and GE, whose corporate leadership drove highly publicized departures from the state.

Henkel is #158 on Forbes magazine’s Global 2000 list of Top Multinational Performers, and #307 on the list of America’s Best Employers.  Charter Communications is #38 on the Forbes list of Growth Champions and ranks #107 on the Global 2000.

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business units: Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Many are unfamiliar with the corporate name, but know their products well:  Dial, Snuggle, All, Purex, Sunlight, and Surf, among many others.  The company’s United States Adhesive Technologies R&D headquarters is in Rocky Hill.

Just over a year ago, in September 2016, Henkel acquired Wilton-based Sun Products Corporation.  Jobs became available almost instantly for a variety of positions across Henkel’s Connecticut footprint – with locations in Trumbull and Rocky Hill as well as the new office planned in Stamford.  With the acquisition, Henkel reached the number two position in the laundry care market in North America, behind only Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble.  North America is one the most important regions for Henkel, according to the company, and the U.S. accounts for the highest sales globally.

A month later, the state announced it would be providing the company with up to $25 million in state aid to support the company’s move of employees from Arizona to Connecticut (and Wilton to Stamford) as part of a consolidation and growth plan.   The Department of Economic and Community Development, as part of its “First Five” program, is to provide a 10-year, $20 million low-interest loan to support the project., and the company may be eligible for up to $5 million in tax credits for capital investment on eligible projects.  Projections were for 266 jobs in Stamford initially, with a workforce of 500 anticipated, according to published reports.

The move began into new headquarters began this summer, with about one-third moving here from Arizona, one-third from Sun Products, and one-third employees new to the company, Fairfield County Business Journal reported.

Henkel North America Consumer Goods Headquarters is a “new workspace” that will “showcase a forward-thinking office design, fostering a high level of creativity and collaboration, which are fundamental for growth and success as a thriving consumer goods business,” officials said.  The company’s website now features a video touting the advantages of Stamford, and why it was selected.

“We look forward to moving into our exciting new home, with the space and opportunity for growth,” the video narration declares. “Stamford is a vibrant community, brimming with restaurants, arts and entertainment within walking distance of our new office.  The city is a transportation hub, with easy access.”

Most Connecticut residents may also be unfamiliar with Charter Communications.  Connecticut has 24 cable franchise areas; Charter provides local cable service in only three of them, in the western and northeastern regions of the state for about 35 mostly rural communities.  The larger franchise owners in Connecticut are Cablevision, Comcast and Cox.  But the Connecticut map is deceiving – nationally Charter is the second largest cable provider in the nation.

Last month, Charter announced plans for a new 15-story headquarters building in Stamford.   The new building at the Gateway Harbor Point development along Long Island Sound is projected to have 500,000 square feet of work space. Employees are expected to move in during 2019.

“Since relocating Charter’s headquarter operations to Stamford in 2012, the company has undergone a transformation to become the second largest cable provider in the U.S.,” said chairman and CEO Tom Rutledge in a press release. “This new, state-of-the-art facility in downtown Stamford will provide Charter the necessary resources to facilitate its continued growth. ”

The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will provide a 10-year, $10 million low-interest loan to support the project through the state’s First Five Plus program. The company may be eligible for loan forgiveness based on job creation and if employment obligations are met. Charter Communications will also receive up to $10 million in tax credits through DECD’s Urban and Industrial Sites Reinvestment Tax Credit program. Additional tax credits are available if the company exceeds job targets.

In a news release, the Governor’s Office indicated that “following its commitment to create and retain 400 jobs under the state’s First Five Program in 2012, Charter has committed to create an additional 1,100 new corporate headquarters jobs and has agreed to a total of $100 million in planned capital expenditures in Connecticut over the next several years. It was Stamford’s largest real estate announcement of the year. The new headquarters would become the first commercial facility with “direct access” to the station’s platform, company officials said, citing the location’s proximity to both rail and Interstate 95.

Charter’s growth is drive by the acquisitions during the past year of Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks.  That expanded Charter’s reach to about 50 million homes and businesses and earned them the ranking of second-largest cable company in the country, just behind Philadelphia-based Comcast.

New Wallingford Rail Station Opens Ahead of Next Year's Hartford Line Expansion

The next step in the development of the Hartford line, which will significantly expand daily passenger rail service between New Haven and Springfield, takes place on Monday with the opening of a newly constructed passenger station in Wallingford. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) will officially open the new CTrail Hartford Line Wallingford Station to the public on Monday afternoon. The new station is located at 343 North Cherry Street, approximately one mile north of the existing station.

It will be opening in advance of the May 2018 launch of CTrail Hartford Line passenger rail service. Gov. Malloy and state officials announced last month that a one-way trip between Hartford and New Haven will run $8 when the expanded commuter service gets underway next spring. A trip along the entire length of the rail line — Springfield to New Haven — will cost $12.75.

The Wallingford station features amenities “aimed at providing a high-quality passenger experience,” officials point out, including high-level platforms on both sides of the track as well as elevators, stairways with an overhead pedestrian bridge to cross the tracks, and canopies covering approximately 50 percent of the platform length. There will be parking for approximately 221 vehicles in two surface parking lots at the station. There is also a passenger information display system, security cameras, electric vehicle charging, and bicycle racks. Limited seating on the platform is also available.

Construction began in December 2014 and cost approximately $21 million.  New rail stations in Meriden and Berlin are under construction, and are expected to come on line prior to the launch of the expanded passenger service in the spring. DOT officials have previously indicated that all stations will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and none of the stations will have bathrooms.

Once underway, the new daily service will mean that from New Haven to Hartford, trains will increase from six to 17 per day. Between Hartford and Springfield, trains will increase from six to 12 per day. A new station in North Haven station is currently being designed, and is not due to be built and open until 2020. Stations in Enfield, Newington, West Hartford, Windsor and Windsor Locks stations are also part of the Hartford Line plans. Trains will arrive at stations in New Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin and Hartford every 45 minutes during peak hours and every 60 to 90 minutes during off-peak periods.

The DOT is accepting comments on the new fares through Nov. 27 by email (dot.hartfordlinecomments@ct.gov) or mail.  In addition, there will be three public comment forums: at 5 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the New Haven Hall of Records; 4 p.m. on Nov. 14 at Capital Community College in Hartford; and 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in Springfield.

There is more than a rail station at work in Wallingford.  The town has completed a Transit-Oriented-Development (TOD) Plan that features shifting existing industrial development to the north, freeing up space for mixed-use and retail development in Downtown, officials said. The existing Parker Place apartment complex near the station offers a precedent for TOD and is expanding 200 units. The Town is also making efforts to encourage and support TOD by creating a new Town Center zoning district and reducing off street parking requirements. Transit-Oriented-Development refers to a high density, pedestrian oriented, mixed-use development located within a short walk of transit stations. TOD plans are also anticipated at the other stations along the Hartford line.

Varied Economic Development Projects, People and Programs to be Celebrated by State

The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) has named top economic development projects, programs and leaders from throughout the state to be honored at the annual CELEBRATE CT! event on November 30, 2017 at The Bushnell in Hartford. The 21 honorees were selected by economic development officials in each of 10 regions across Connecticut for their contribution to the state’s economy – such as consistent or growing employment levels, playing a critical role in changing the character of its community or civic engagement, strong public/private collaboration to encourage new investment, or leadership resulting in growth or improvements.

The honorees include initiatives, businesses, organizations and individuals that are widely known in their communities, and some that are less well-known.  Reflecting the growth of the craft beer industry in Connecticut, the honorees include three breweries: Stony Creek Brewery in Branford,  Beer'd Brewing Company in Stonington, Alvarian Beer Company in New Britain. 

“These awards acknowledge key people, programs and projects that are stimulating new jobs and investment in our economy,” said CERC President and CEO Robert Santy. “They are well earned and well-deserved, and CERC is proud to recognize the 2017 honorees and their noteworthy accomplishments that are having a positive impact on Connecticut’s business environment.”

The 2017 honorees also include the UCONN Hartford Campus, which began operations this fall in downtown Hartford, the long-running Goodspeed Musicals, and the Heirloom Food Company in Danielson, an organic cafe and juice bar.  The state's increased emphasis on rekindling the manufacturing industries is reflected in the selections of Pegusus Manufacturing and Hurley Manufacturing.

This is the eighth year the event is being hosted by CERC, a nonprofit corporation and public-private partnership that provides economic development services, working closely with an extensive network of state, regional, local and utility partners to leverage Connecticut’s unique advantages as a premier business location.

Nearly 200 economic development and business professionals from around the state are expected to attend CELEBRATE CT! (To register or sponsor the event, visit www.cerc.com/celebratect)

The 2017 CELEBRATE CT! award honorees:

• Capitol Region/Hartford Joining Technologies UCONN Hartford Campus
• Central/New Britain Alvarium Beer Company Jasko Development LLC
• South Central/New Haven Stony Creek Brewery Mike Freda (for Amazon Fulfillment Center, North Haven)
• Southeastern/New London Beer’d Brewing Sean Nugent (for Preston Riverwalk)
• Lower CT River Valley/Middlesex Goodspeed Musicals Pegasus Manufacturing
• Naugatuck Valley/Waterbury Basement Systems Bristol Centre Square Project
• West/Danbury-Fairfield BRT General Corporation Ferguson Library (1 Million Cups) Inspira Marketing Group
• Metropolitan/Bridgeport Corvus Capital Partners LLC Future Health Care Systems
• Northeastern/Windham Heirloom Food Company Thompson Branding Plan
• Northwest Hills/Torrington Hurley Manufacturing Whiting Mills

CT Among States Most Vulnerable to Identity Theft and Fraud, Analysis Finds

Identity theft and Connecticut seem to go hand-in-hand, according to a new analysis of the prevalence of identity theft across the country. Connecticut ranked among the most vulnerable, at number 10 for identity theft and fraud and number 7 in identity theft complaints per capita. The credit-monitoring site WalletHub released a study this month identifying the states most vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Analysts compared data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia across eight key metrics, ranging from identity theft complaints per capita to average amount lost due to fraud.

"Connecticut ranked #2 when it comes to Identity Theft in particular. It has the 2nd highest combined rate of identity theft complaints per capita and amount of losses per complaint (in dollars),  WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzalez told CT by the Numbers. The data sets for the study included identity-theft complaints per capita and average loss amount due to fraud.

The most vulnerable top 10: California, Rhode island, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Texas, New York, and Connecticut.

WalletHub noted that according to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s most recent Data Breach Report, 2017 is on track to register the highest number of data breaches since the center began tracking them in 2005.  Major data breaches this year include Equifax, which potentially impacted more than 145 million Americans.

"The metrics which show truly alarming results in Connecticut's case are Identity Theft Complaints per 100,000 Residents (ranking 7th at 137.90) and Average Loss Amount Due to Online Identity Theft, calculated as the Total Reported Amount Paid / Total Number of Complaints Stating the Amount Stolen (ranking 5th at $12,174.48),” Gonzalez said.

A breakdown of the rankings found that Connecticut was:

• 7th in identity-theft complaints per capita
• 5th in average loss amount due to online identity theft
• 25th in fraud and other complaints per capita
• 23rd in state security-freeze laws for minors’ credit reports
• 24th in compliance with the REAL ID Act. The REAL ID Act establishes minimum security standards for license issuance and production.

The WalletHub analysis included three areas of data:  Identity Theft (47.5 points), Fraud (47.5 points) and Policy (5 points).

Among the policy measures, the state ranked tied for first in the Identity Theft Passport program metric.

"Identity Theft Passport programs help victims of identity theft reclaim their identity,” Gonzalez explained.  “When presented to a law-enforcement agency, for instance, an “identity-theft passport” allows a victim to prevent his or her arrest for offenses committed by an identity thief."

Data used to create the WalletHub ranking were collected from the Federal Trade Commission, Internet Crime Complaint Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and National Conference of State Legislatures.

Innovation Drives Start-Up Businesses to Receive CTNext Funding

When CTNext, described as state’s leading resource for entrepreneurial support, distributed $54,000 to five Connecticut-based businesses at the annual CTNext Entrepreneur Innovation Awards, they instantly became five to watch. The fledgling businesses are among a growing number of start-ups that are being encouraged by state and private funding sources as Connecticut seeks to become a place where innovation, often driven by millennials, can thrive.  Such financial support aims to increase the odds of a business succeeding, while at the same time making it more likely that the company founders would stay in the state, at a time when many millennials are heading elsewhere.

The companies, selected from 10 that sought the CTNext funding of $10,000 per company, were:

• FallCall Solutions (Stratford): Creating a telemonitoring system for Apple Watch and other mobile systems for elders and caregivers
• Rumble Helmet (Bridgeport): Developing a smart bicycle helmet that has embedded features designed to communicate the cyclist’s intentions to other road users
• Sitrep (Cheshire): Creating a system for better communication of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) problems
• Deo2Go (Norwalk): Creating a topical delivery device that can be filled with a variety of products, such as deodorant, lip balm and sunscreen
• EZ ICE: Manufacturing a kit for a custom and portable backyard ice rink that can be assembled in under an hour, with no tools and on any surface

For the second consecutive EIA, Deo2Go took home the $2,000 Crowd Favorite award. Rumble Helmet won an additional $2,000 as Judges’ Favorite, at the awards ceremony held in Hamden.

Rumble Helmet, founded in January 2017, is a smart bicycle helmet that has an embedded adaptive light system consisting of front flash light, back light, turn signals, and uniquely designed sidelights to communicate the cyclists' intentions to other road users, according to a GoFundMe page, now seeking financial support. The light system can be activated using hand signals. The smart helmet can detect vehicle presence in the cyclist's blind spot. Moreover, it can be paired with a mobile navigation application. This invention has a utility patent and design paten granted.  CEO Reem AlAttas, a University of Bridgeport Ph.D. candidate, is a co-founder.

Sitrep, based in Cheshire, was founded in 2014 to “develop monitoring systems that are intuitively usable.”  Principals are Harland Christofferson, Gary Martin and Michael Byrne.

The mission of Stratford-based FallCall Solutions, LLC is “to become the premier innovator in simplified communication solutions for the geriatric population and their caregivers.” The company website explains that the company aims to maximize elder independence and caregiver peace of mind by “building software based solely on the needs of the consumer rather than the trying to create and introduce new ecosystems into our customers’ lives.”

EZ ICE began in 2010 as a small Rhode Island company constructing ice skating rinks in families’ backyards in the Providence and Boston Suburbs, according to the company’s website.

Since launching the Entrepreneur Innovation Awards in 2014, CTNext has now held 13 total events in the state, awarding a total of $642,000 to 58 unique companies.  All companies – including the most recent selections - must be registered with the Secretary of the State’s Office in Connecticut before receiving any grant dollars from CTNext.

“It’s exciting to see the innovative ideas moving toward commercialization by our state’s entrepreneurs, and we are so pleased to be able to provide support to help progress those ideas to the next level,” said Glendowlyn Thames, Executive Director of CTNext.