State Will Step Up Efforts to Respond to Needs of Women Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are 16,545 veterans in Connecticut who are women. Some among them struggle with issues such as unemployment, homelessness and mental illness, and many more are unaware of the support services available to them.  That was the impetus for legislation approved this year by the General Assembly and recently signed into law by Gov. Malloy, requiring the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish, within available resources, a Connecticut women veterans' program.

The new women’s veterans program must:

• reach out to women veterans to improve awareness of eligibility for federal and state veterans' benefits and services;
• assess women veterans' needs for benefits and services;
• review programs and research projects and other initiatives designed to address or meet Connecticut women veterans' needs; and
• incorporate women veterans' issues in strategic planning on benefits and services.

The program must also annually submit recommendations for improving benefits and services for women veterans to the veterans' affairs commissioner and the Veterans' Affairs Committee of the legislature, beginning January 15, 2016.

Under the law’s provisions, a “veteran” is anyone discharged or released (under conditions other than dishonorable) from active service in the armed forces - U. S.  Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force -and any reserve component of these branches, including the Connecticut National Guard operating under certain Homeland Security missions.

Jackie Evonison, the women veterans’ outreach coordinator with the American Legion Connecticut, told legislators considering the program that many female veterans are unaware of available services or don’t feel they’re qualified to receive them.

In 2012, there were   more than 2,600 women veterans residing in Hartford County, according to data included in a report from the Aurora Foundation. Women veterans face substantial and unique challenges readjusting to civilian life, the report pointed out, especially in the areas of housing, mental health, health care, employment and homelessness:

• In Hartford County, approximately 8 percent of the population are veterans; females are 5 percent of this population (approximately 2,619 women vets in Hartford County).
• Female veterans are almost four times more likely to become homeless than women who have not served in the military.
• Only one of the three veterans’ housing facilities in the county house female veterans.

As a group, female veterans are younger than their male counterparts, with an average age of 48, compared to 63 for men. More than 80 percent of the female veterans are working age, compared to 55 percent for men, according to published reports.

Commissioner Sean Connolly of the state Department of Veterans Affairs said the mission of the program will be “to see what kinds of programs are out there, develop recommendations for improving benefits, and determining whether new programs and projects are necessary to meet the needs of our women veterans.”

Housing, Education, Poverty Among Greater Hartford Region's Challenges, Report Reveals

Of the 4,000 affordable housing units added to the 38-town Greater Hartford region over the past five years, nearly half (47 percent) have been in Hartford and New Britain – almost as many as were added in all of the other 36 towns in the region combined. That stark statistic is among the points emphasized in the second edition of Metro Hartford Progress Points, an analysis of data compiled by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and a coalition of community and regional organizations.  The inaugural report was released last year, and the new edition updates some of that initial data, as well as revealing new information about the region’s demographics, opportunities and challenges.

Regarding the fact that much of the housing is being developed in municipalities that face considerable economic challenges, the report notes that those 36 towns have lost over 9,000 students in local schools during the past five years, despite having school districts that perform more than 30 points higher and standardized testing than those in Hartford and New Britain.  The report indicated, for example, that for every 100 children born in the region’s outer ring suburbs (such as Glastonbury), 113 enroll in local public school five years later, as opposed to 81 who enroll in city schools and inner ring suburbs (such as Bloomfield).

The second edition of Progress Points “takes a deeper look at key issues impacting our communities and how they are connected. The report asks how we can build on our strengths and fully utilize the assets that the region has to provide access to opportunity for all,” officials explained.  Using key indicators to identify opportunities for action, the 2015 report focuses on three regional priorities: 1) Access to better schools, 2) Access to better jobs, and 3) Access to stronger neighborhoods.

Looking at five year trends, the report found that the region’s population of about 1 million people has grown by 2 percent, which translates to about 20,000 people or about 4,000 families.  Regional job growth, 3.5 percent, is on par with the state, but remains about 8,000 jobs below pre-recession levels.  The crime rate across the Greater Hartford region has been reduced by about 18 percent during the past five years, faster than the state (-16%) and national (11%) trends.

The study determined that there are more people living in poverty in the region than 10 years ago.  “Suburban communities have seen a major increase in the population living in low-to-mid-poverty neighborhoods,” the report said.   “Poverty is a regional, not an urban, problem.  Addressing poverty requires improved coordination among towns to better connect transportation and other services to increase access to opportunity.”

In education, the report also notes that about 4 percent more third-graders are reading at or above grade-level goals, a faster improvement than statewide (1.3 percent).  There has been no change in the percentage of kindergartners in the region starting school with pre-K experience.  That level, 78 percent, is the same in the region as statewide.  Focusing on declining enrollment, officials indicated that some of the region’s highest-performing school districts are seeing the greatest decrease in enrollment as a result of declining birth rates: Simsbury at 13 percent, Tolland at 16 percent, Granby at 14 percent. Avon and Glastonbury both are experiencing a decline of 8 percent.

Metro Hartford Progress Points was introduced “in order to identify and better understand the critical education, income and opportunity gaps that exist in our region. This year, we’re continuing the discussion, looking for ways to improve access to better schools, better jobs and stronger neighborhoods for everyone in the region,” officials indicated.  “Access to better jobs builds stronger neighborhoods. Stronger neighborhoods help to connect families to better schools. And better education ensures that workers are ready to take on those jobs — increasing prosperity, growth and quality of life for all.”

Regarding preparation for college, the report indicates that “almost 50 percent of all students entering community college or Connecticut state universities require remedial coursework and training, even those from high-performing districts.”  The report notes “this means paying for additional courses, which only increases student debt.” The report indicates that 70 percent of jobs in Connecticut are projected to require a post-secondary education by 2025.  To reach that level, it is estimated that an additional 4,500 people will need to earn degrees statewide per year.  Currently, 67 percent of the population in Greater Hartford has a post-secondary degree.

Partner organizations in developing the report include the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Capital Workforce Partners, Capital region Council of Governments, Metro Hartford Alliance, Hispanic Health Council, United Way of Central and Northern Connecticut, Urban League of Greater Hartford, Center for Urban and Global Studies at Trinity College, and the City of Hartford.

AARP, The Hartford Aim to Assist Low Income Seniors Become Entrepreneurs

The Hartford has committed $1.4 million to the AARP Foundation to extend the Foundation’s Back to Work 50+ initiative to help low-income older adults assess opportunities to become entrepreneurs and create microenterprises. The three-year sponsorship, which broadens The Hartford's long-standing relationship with AARP, is part of The Hartford’s national philanthropic program. Communities with HART aims to "nurture the well-being of America’s communities by inspiring new generations of business leaders, enabling underserved neighborhood business owners to achieve growth and engaging the community in neighborhood business support," highlights the program description. “We are thrilled to sponsor the Back to Work 50+ program to educate and inspire older Americans who are interested in developing their own small businesses,” said Diane Cantello, vice president of Corporate Responsibility at The Hartford. “By encouraging entrepreneurship among older Americans, this program will help foster small business growth and contribute to the vibrancy of our communities.”

“Older adults are redefining traditional approaches to work and careers,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of AARP Foundation. “While many want to continue to work or advance in their current jobs, a growing number want to generate income by using their talents and skills to start their own business or microenterprise. Through this effort, AARP Foundation stands ready to help by equipping them with the information and skills they need to achieve their goals.”

The recent announcement of this new sponsorship follows the one-year anniversary of The Hartford’s Communities with HART Program, a five-year initiative aimed at benefitting small businesses and supporting students through partnerships with the Accion U.S. Network (Accion) and Junior Achievement USA (JA).  In its first year, The Hartford announced a $1.25 million partnership with Accion to help small business owners who experience difficulty in accessing the traditional loans they need to sustain and grow their businesses. Accion manages the loan process, which focuses on community-oriented businesses in low-and-moderate income areas that hire and source locally, deliver social value and make a positive difference in their neighborhoods. With an initial focus in four key markets - Chicago, Hartford, San Antonio and San Diego – Communities with HART also provides training and web resources to help small business owners succeed.

The Hartford is also helping to inspire the next generation of small business owners as the title sponsor of the JA Company Program^®, which includes a new online blended learning model and offers students the opportunity to launch their own small business while learning the basics of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness. With the help of a $1.5 million investment, JA has already seen more than a 25 percent increase in the number of JA Company Programs being conducted since the new program was rolled out across the country at the end of last year, according to company officials.

238 Organ Transplants in 2014 in CT; 1,467 on Current Waiting Lists in State

At the beginning of this month, there were 1,467 individuals registered for organ transplants in Connecticut, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.  The longest list was for a kidney transplant, with 1,259 names.  In addition the transplant waiting lists included 159 people seeking a liver transplant, 52 awaiting a heart transplant, 18 on the waiting list for a kidney/pancreas, and 10 for a pancreas. Among those on the heart transplant list, five individuals are between the ages of 18 and 34, eleven are between 35 and 49, 25 individuals are between age 50 - 64 and eleven are age 65 or older.  Forty-one are men, eleven are women.  The waiting time for a heart transplant, according to the data, is usually between one to six months, although in more than one-third of the cases, it is longer.

In Connecticut in 2014, there were 238 transplants according to the data, a portion of the 29,376 kidney, pancreas, liver, heart, lung and intestine transplants nationwide.  Only 15 states had fewer transplant surgeries, including four states that did not have any (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska).  The largest number of transplants occurred in California (3,454), Texas (2,626), New York (1,826), Pennsylvania (1,803), and Florida (1,803).  There were 796 transplants at hospitals in Massachusetts in 2014.

According to the state Department of Motor Vehicles,. Connecticut residents can join the Donor Registry at the DMV/AAA or online at Donate Life New England (www.donatelifenewengland.org). Donate Life New England is a joint endeavor of the organ procurement organizations that serve New England: LifeChoice Donor Services and the New England Organ Bank.

In Connecticut, only 43 percent of state residents over the age of 18 are included in the Donor Registry, which is below the national average of 48 percent.

Each year, more than 8,143 people donate organs after death, including organs for kidney transplant, liver transplant, heart transplant, or other organ transplant operations.  Anyone above 16 years old can register to be an organ and tissue donor in Connecticut. At the age of 18, the decision to donate is authorization for donation.  The DMV website points out that there are no age limits for organ donation, noting that “medical history is a far more important factor.”

The Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation and Donate Life America joined forces this month to create a new nationwide observance called Donate Life ECHO, which stands for Every Community Has Opportunity.  Designed to reach multicultural communities, the new observance from July 12th – 25th had two objectives: to focus on the power of sharing one’s personal decision to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor with members of one’s community; and to encourage registered donors to ask members of their personal networks and extended communities to talk about donation and register as donors.

“When people share the life-affirming message of donation within their community, more lives will be saved and healed,” said Caitlyn Bernabucci, Public Education Specialist for LifeChoice.

Multicultural communities play a critical role in America’s transplant system.  They save and heal lives as donors of organs, eyes and tissue, need life saving kidney transplants in disproportionately high numbers, and serve patients and families as healthcare professionals. Organs are not matched according to race or ethnicity, officials explain, as people of different races often match one another.  However, there is a higher probability of a match when received from someone of the same ethnicity because compatible blood types and tissue markers—critical qualities for donor and recipient matching—are more likely.   Ultimately, a greater diversity of donors will increase access to organ and tissue transplantation for everyone, officials noted.

Yale-New Haven is CT's Top Hospital; Regional Rankings Include Eight Hospitals in State

The top ranked hospitals in Connecticut were Yale-New Haven Hospital, Hartford Hospital, and Danbury Hospital, followed by Greenwich Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Waterbury Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport.  That is the status in the annual U.S. News and World Report ranking of the nation’s best hospitals, released this week. Only Yale-New Haven broke into the ranks of the nation’s best, earning national rankings in eight adult specialties – including to rankings among the nation’s ten best - and six pediatric specialties.  Among the adult specialties, Yale-New Haven ranked #8 in the nation in diabetes and endocrinology,#10 in psychiatry, #21 in pulmonology, #22 in Gastroenterology & GI Surgery and #25 in geriatrics.  Yale-New Haven’s national rankings in particular specialties also included #27 in gynecology, #42 in the nation in cancer, and #43 nationally in ear, nose & throat care.  

Yale-New Haven Hospital is a 1,571-bed general medical and surgical facility with 54,412 admissions in the most recent year reported, according to US News. It performed 16,886 annual inpatient and 22,990 outpatient surgeries, and its emergency room had 141,422 visits.

Among pediatric specialties, Yale-New Haven ranked #5 in diabetes & Endocrinology, and in the top 50 in cancer, gastroenterology & GI surgery, neonatology, neurology & neurosurgery, and pulmonology.

Hartford Hospital, ranked second in the state, is a general medical and surgical hospital in the state's capital city.  It performed nearly at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals in four adult specialties, according to the publication.  Hartford Hospital has 798 beds. The hospital had 37,997 admissions and performed 11,905 annual inpatient and 24,679 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 99,811 visits. Like Yale-New Haven, Hartford Hospital is a teaching hospital.

Considerably smaller in size and scope, Danbury Hospital ranked third amongst Connecticut hospitals.  Danbury Hospital is a general medical and surgical hospital, with 344 beds. It is also a teaching hospital. Survey data for the latest year available shows that 70,622 patients visited the hospital's emergency room. The hospital had a total of 17,862 admissions. Its physicians performed 4,322 inpatient and 10,811 outpatient surgeries, according to data cited by U.S. News.

U.S. News analyzed over 5,000 hospitals for adult and pediatric care to find the best in the nation, based on critical criteria and patient outcomes.  Top-ranked hospitals include University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston (No. 1 in the nation in Cancer), the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio (No. 1 nationally in Cardiology & Heart Surgery) and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, New York (No. 1 in Orthopedics). They also include 15 hospitals that ranked among the top 20 nationally in at least half a dozen different specialties, earning them each a berth on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston topped that list.

The publication indicated that in all, just 137 hospitals – less than 3 percent of all of those in the nation – earned a national ranking in at least one specialty. But while those medical centers stand above the rest in providing complex specialty care, they aren't the only ones deserving of patients' attention according to the US News editorial team on the project.  The top hospitals - reaching the publication's Honor Roll of 15 hospitals - included Massachusetts General Hospital at #1, Mayo Clinic at #2, and Johns Hopkins at #3.  Another New England hospital making the Honor Roll, at #6, is Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital.  

Underscoring the frequency with which various medical procedures are done, US News highlighted the statistics:  “Over the next 12 months, more than 1 million Americans will have surgery to replace a hip or knee. Approximately 400,000 will have heart bypass surgery. About 900,000 will be hospitalized for congestive heart failure and another 700,000 or more for the respiratory condition called COPD.”  These are among the most common procedures and conditions that hospitals encounter, according to the publication, and the core of their rankings system.

Young Professionals Honored Across CT; Emerging Leaders Earn Plaudits in Many Fields

There appears to be no shortage of outstanding young professionals in Connecticut, as a glimpse at business publications this month clearly shows. Hartford Business Journal has named “the 40 best young professionals in Greater Hartford,” and Fairfield County Business Journal has honored its top choices, with their annual 40 Under 40 Awards recognizing emerging business leaders. Candidates are judged on their contributions to their specific industry or the position of authority they have achieved in their career.  Leaders in business and non-profits of all sizes and industries were considered, according to the publication.

HBJ Managing Editor Brad Kane explains that “HBJ’s 40 Under Forty awards identifies young leaders who have already had success but who also have the potential to lead the professional world of tomorrow.  These individuals want to lead both in the board room and in life.”

The Fairfield County Business Journal’s 11th annual event, held recently, honored 40 people working in industries including law, real estate, medicine, nonprofits and others in Fairfield County. More than 300 people attended the event at the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling congratulated the Fairfield County group at the awards ceremony, “You’re the rising stars of Connecticut, and we thank you for what you do,” Rilling said.

Hartford Business Journal reveals its selections from a sizable pool of candidates in the current issue, and will present its awards at an event to be held at the CT Convention Center in Hartford on September 30.

Greater Hartford’s 40 Under 40, as published by the Hartford Business Journal:

Julianne Avallone, Ford & Paulekas

Stephanie Higgins Bealing, Replacement Lens Express

David Bittner, St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center

Anthony Byers, Hartford Youth Scholars

Michael Byrne, UBS Global Asset Management

Megan Carannante, Pullman & Comley

Rebekah Castagno, The Village for Families & Children

Aidan Charles, Charles Coaching & Nutrition Services

Dan Clark, Clark Insurance

Endia DeCordova, Manchester Community College

Jocelyn DeMaio, The Hartford Financial Services Group

Stephanie Dumont, Comcast

David Elder, ConnDOT

Stephen Frenkel, Cigna

Ryan T. Gardner, Fiduciary Investment Advisors

Jacquelynn Garofano, United Technologies Research Center

Tara Gerber, Travelers Championship

Daniel Gottfried, Hinckley Allen

Jaclynn Hart, Hartford Performs

Jennyfer Holmes, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

Elizabeth Johnson, Post University

Jonathan Kaplan, Pullman & Comley

Alex Koenigsberg, Creative Living Community of CT

Melissa Lambright, SIGHT Eye Health

Lori-Ann Marchese, Body Construct

Michelle McDade, The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Kristina Miner, Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance

Karraine Moody, Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity

Quentin Phipps, Charter Schools for Excellence

Kathryn Redican, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Todd R. Regan, Robinson+Cole

Natasha Roggi, Hartford Sweat

Jacquelyn Santiago, COMPASS Youth Collaborative

Kathryn Shafer, Partnership for Strong Communities

Anthony Shannon, Shipman & Goodwin

Steven C. Taylor, Webster Bank

Joseph Turbessi, Finished: What's Next?

Rebecca Wareing, Management Search

Robert Zanlungo, Primary Residential Mortgage

Mark S. Zatyrka, American Homecare Federation

Fairfield County 40 Under 40, as published by the Fairfield County Business Journal:

Joshua Aferzon, CEO, Orthozon Technologies

Megan Baroni, counsel, Robinson & Cole LLP

Eliot Bassin, partner, Bregman & Company PC

Assaf Z. Ben-Atar, associate counsel, Pullman & Comley LLC

Kelly Berwick, deputy assistant public defender, Division of Public Defender Services

Paul A. Bonomo, CFO and COO, Cannondale Generators Inc.

Peter M. Bryniczka, partner, Schoonmaker, George & Blomberg PC

James Calkins, executive chef and owner, Seasonal Sweets & Catering

Anthony A. Carpentieri, private wealth manager, Private Banking & Investment Group at Merrill Lynch

Nate Checketts, co-founder, Rhone Apparel

Joseph Cichowski, vice president of sales and marketing, Ash Creek Enterprises Inc.

Mario F. Coppola, Esq., partner and corporation counsel for the city of Norwalk, Berchem, Moses & Devlin PC

Jessica Curtis, senior managing director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Sergio DaSilveira, vice president, banking center manager, Webster Bank

Lara Devgan, plastic surgeon, Greenwich Hospital

Steven Fusco, sales consultant, Paychex Inc.

Emily Goldschmid, clinical director of children’s services, Kids in Crisis

Nicole Licata Grant, economic development specialist, UIL Holdings Corporation

Benjamin Healey, associate director, clean energy finance, Connecticut Green Bank

Jason Jaronko, senior program director, Westport Weston Family YMCA

Sean Keating, senior manager, McGladrey LLP

Bryan J. Kelsey, vice president, senior market manager, People’s United Bank

Christiane Kinseley, licensed clinical social worker, A Whole Recovery LLC

Dr. Daniel T. Ksepka, curator of science, Bruce Museum

John Lim, CEO, Life in Mobile

Patrick B. McKiernan, account executive, Abercrombie Burns McKiernan & Company Insurance Inc.

Katrina V. Melei, bariatric surgery program coordinator, Greenwich Hospital

Kathryn Scheinberg Meyer, staff attorney, education success project, Center for Children’s Advocacy

Nick Nguyen, portfolio manager, Cambridge Hanover

Carrie O’Connell, director of employment services, day services and transportation, Ability Beyond

Thomas P. O’Connor, partner, Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC

Douglas Polistena, general manager, Amber Room Colonnade

David Sansone Jr., project manager, A.P. Construction

Paul Santos, director, information technology and operations, The Center for Family Justice Inc.

Lindsay Clauss Sheehy, sales associate, Houlihan Lawrence

Alison Smith, housekeeper, global messenger, Stern Village, The Kennedy Center, Special Olympics

Dave Stambone, vice president, senior mortgage banker, Total Mortgage Services LLC

Laurie Stefanowicz, vice president, managing partner, Catamount Wealth Management

Jamie Toole, general manager, Bridgeport Bluefish Professional Baseball

Kristen L. Zaehringer, attorney, Murtha Cullina LLP

First-Time Home Purchases Poised for Increase Nationwide; Buyers Market in Connecticut

Nearly one-in-five potential first-time home buyers nationwide are actively looking to buy and nearly two-thirds would like to provide a sizable down payment of 20 percent or more. Nearly two-thirds, 62 percent, of potential first-time home buyers think they will purchase a home within the next two years. Among millennial survey respondents, this number is slightly higher, rising to 67 percent. New research from TD Bank, with 75 locations in Connecticut, indicates that “consumers are gaining confidence in the economy and many are looking to enter the housing market within the next two years,” explained Scott Haymore, Head of Pricing and Secondary Markets, TD Bank.  The bank polled more than 1,000 Americans looking to purchase their first home within the next five years, producing the TD Bank First-Time Home Buyer Pulse report. 

Connecticut, with the strongest inventory of homes on the market in the New England region, is especially attractive to first-time home buyers, points out Maryruth Ryan, TD Bank's Regional Mortgage Sales Manager for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and southern New Hampshire.  “Rates are at historical lows, mortgage programs are good.  It’s a good time to buy in Connecticut,” Ryan said.

The Connecticut Association of Realtors reported earlier this month that single-family house sales across Connecticut rose nearly 14 percent in June, compared with June 2014, with the median sale price dropping just under one percent.  There were 3,756 homes sold in Connecticut last month, 459 more than during the same month a year ago.

Ryan said that as the millennial generation looks to first-home purchases, they “have done their research, they are more prepared, they know what they need to do to qualify for a mortgage for their first home.”

When asked what is preventing them from purchasing their first home, respondents most often cited needing to save money for a down payment (64 percent) and needing to pay down debt (45 percent).  For millennials, the entry to homeownership is even tougher: 70 percent of millennial respondents said they need to save for a down payment and 52 percent said they need to pay down debt. Millennials are more likely to purchase their first home with a partner or spouse (70 percent) compared to potential first-time home buyers of other generations 49 percent.

"Many first-time buyers today are finding it difficult to save for a large down payment, especially young adults who are saddled with substantial student loan debt," said Haymore. “Many lenders today are offering home affordability and down payment assistance programs so it's important for these buyers and potential buyers to shop around for a mortgage and learn more about the options available to them."

The survey noted that more than two-thirds of consumers (68 percent) looking to purchase their first home are interested in move-in ready homes while one-third would like to buy a fixer-upper. And when it comes to amenities, respondents are most interested in their first home having a backyard or pool and an attractive design, followed by energy efficient / smart homes technologies.

The top four financing options first-time buyers consider include cash savings, 30-year mortgage, and an affordability program and government loan.  Ryan points out that financial institutions such as TD Bank provide consumer education about the mortgage process, discussing aspects including budgeting and affordability with prospective home buyers. "The right lender will help first-time buyers understand what they can afford and share information on the different loan options available,” Haymore added.

Some Connecticut home purchases are now including a contingency clause, Ryan indicated, something that isn’t happening at the same frequency elsewhere.  The so-called “Hubbard Clause” is a contingency in a purchase agreement that expressly conditions the buyer's offer upon their ability to sell and close on another home or property, most often their current residence.

Because of the strong inventory currently in Connecticut, rather than more than one buyer lining up to purchase a house and an ensuing bidding war, as is happening in other parts of New England and around the country, first-time home buyers here tend to be able to select the home they’d prefer, and often are the only bidder seeking to make the purchase.  The Greater Hartford Board of Realtors reported that home sales rose for the fifth consecutive month in June in the 75-town region, and that sales increased and prices dropped during the first six months of 2015, compared with a year ago.

The TD Bank First-Time Home Buyer Pulse isavailable at http://mediaroom.tdbank.com/homebuyer.  The survey was conducted by Vision Critical, June 11-16.

Six Connecticut Businesses Earn Honors from U.S. Commerce Department for Export Efforts

Four Connecticut companies - Dymotek of Ellington, Jonal Laboratories, Inc. of Meriden, Mutualink of Wallingford and Proton OnSite of Wallingford – were among 26 companies nationwide to receive the President’s “E” Award for Exports, as determined by the U.S. Department of Commerce.  In addition, Stamford-based Finacity Corporation and Hartford-based law firm Shipman and Goodwin were among 12 firms in the U.S. to earn an “E” award for Export Service.  U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker honored a total of 45 American companies and organizations, many of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), at the 2015 President’s “E” Awards ceremony, held earlier this year.  The six Connecticut businesses were among the 45 honored.

Among the 45 businesses, Arizona joined Connecticut with the most businesses earning the “E” designation, with four.  Texas had three; Tennessee, Illinois and North Carolina each had two.  This year’s honorees represent 20 states, with 35 SMEs and 21 manufacturers receiving awards.

The “awardees have made substantial contributions to increasing U.S. exports, which are critical to spurring economic growth and job creation,” said Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. “Exports continue to be a driver of our economy, supporting more than 11.7 million jobs in cities and communities across the country. Furthermore, these exporters are examples of the historic progress in our export growth. In 2014, U.S. exports hit an all-time high of $2.34 trillion, accounting for 13.4 percent of GDP. By exporting more Made-in-America goods and services, U.S. businesses are growing faster, hiring more workers, and paying better wages.”

Proton Onsite makes hydrogen and nitrogen generators.  Mutualink manufactures equipment used to facilitate collaborative communication between public safety and first response teams at the scene of emergencies.  Jonal Laboratories makes sealant used in the aerospace industry.  Dymotek manufactures custom injection molded plastic and silicone parts for electronics, plumbing valves and juice dispensers. 

Finacity is a world-class expert in accounts receivable securitizations, specializing in structuring, administration and reporting.

Twelve companies that assist and facilitate export activities were honored with the “E” Award for Export Service. Four firms received the “E” Star Award for Exports, which recognizes previous “E” Award winners who have reported four years of additional export growth. And, three companies were awarded the “E” Star Award for Export Service, which recognizes previous “E” Award winners that have shown four years of continued support of exporters since first winning the “E” Award.

This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the “E” Awards presentation, which recognizes companies and organizations that make a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.  In 1961, President Kennedy signed an executive order reviving the World War II “E” symbol of excellence to honor and provide recognition to America's exporters. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

“Only a small percentage of America’s 30 million companies export, and of U.S. companies that do export, 59 percent export to only one country. Increasing this number can have a big impact on the U.S. economy,” Pritzker added.

Best Suburbs to Raise A Family? In Connecticut, Most are in Fairfield County

Connecticut’s top 20 suburbs to raise a family are led by the Fairfield County communities of Darien, Weston, New Canaan, Westport, and Wilton, taking the first five slots.  Rounding out the top 10 were Simsbury, Cheshire, Glastonbury, Madison, and Easton, according to the website Niche.  Also reaching the top 20 were Monroe, Avon, Farmington, Middlebury, Canton, Brookfield, Fairfield, Trumbull, Granby and Orange. Niche ranks U.S. suburbs based on age demographics, school ratings, crime rates, and access to affordable housing, child care, libraries, and grocery stores. A high ranking indicates that a suburb "attracts young families with good schools and a safe community.

In the New Haven area, the top 10 suburbs to raise a family are Cheshire, Madison, Monroe, Middlebury, Orange, Guilford, Woodbridge, Wolcott, North Branford, and Branford, according to the rankings.  In the Hartford area, the top 10 area Simsbury, Glastonbury, Avon, Farmington, Canton, , Rocky Hill, Old Saybrook, Suffield, Cromwell, South Windsor, Newington and Southington.

In addition to being the top-ranked suburb in Connecticut, Darien ranked #17 in the nation, followed closely on the national list by Weston at #20, the only suburban communities in Connecticut to reach the top 50.  New Canaan was #51 in the U.S. and Westport was #59, the only other towns from Connecticut reaching the top 100.

In determining the rankings, factors receiving a weight of 20 percent included crime & safety,  and education, weighted at 10 percent were access to libraries, “involvement and investment in the community,” housing, residents between 35 and 44, and the percentage of residents under age 9.  The final two categories used in the calculation, access to day care and access to grocery stores, were weighted at 5 percent.

Founded in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon University students as CollegeProwler.com, Niche is described as having grown into one of the largest content startups in the country, providing students, families, and professionals with “insight into big life decisions.”  The Hartford area  list included Longmeadow, MA and Old Saybrook, communities that most residents would not consider as part of the Greater Hartford region.  The company is based in Pittsburgh.

Seniors Better Off Than Other Adults in CT; State’s Ranks #6 in Senior Advantage

Older adults living in Delaware have the largest well-being advantage relative to the overall state population, followed closely by Oregon, Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan and Connecticut.  A new state-by-state comparison examines the comparative well-being of Americans age 55 and older, and reveals that, nationally, people in that age category have higher well-being than the rest of the population. The inaugural report is based on data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®. The growing percentage of the American population over the age of 55 — a trend largely driven by the Baby Boomers entering later life — has important implications for a variety of stakeholders, including families, employers, healthcare providers and policymakers, according to the report’s authors. “State Well-Being Rankings for Older Americans” aims to fill the research gap.

The report focuses on five elements of well-being: purpose, social, financial, community and physical. These five elements, according to Gallup and Healthways, create a composite picture of the well-being of older Americans in each state.  The Well-Being Index is calculated on a scale of zero to 100, where zero represents the lowest possible well-being and 100 represents the highest possible well-being.  Connecticut’s well-being score was 64.5 for those age 55+, compared with 61.9 for the overall adult population.  The difference of 2.6 was the sixth highest among the states.

The state where older Americans' well-being advantage is smallest is Wyoming, followed by Alaska, Oklahoma, Nevada, South Dakota, Maine and Vermont.

In an absolute sense, Hawaii, Montana, South Dakota, Alaska and Iowa are the top five states for overall well-being for older Americans -- states that also have high well-being rankings for the overall population.  The next five: New Hampshire, Utah, Oregon, New Mexico and Connecticut.

That places Connecticut in the top 10 in the overall rankings for well-being for older residents, and for the well-being advantage its seniors have above the overall adult population in the state.  Connecticut has the 7^th oldest population in the nation. 

States with the lowest well-being for older Americans are also those where well-being as a whole tends to lag behind the rest of the country: West Virginia, Kentucky and Oklahoma. . The report is based on self-reported data from 114,388 interviews with individuals age 55 and older, and was conducted in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab.

“The greatest success of humankind is longer life. The challenge today for families and society is how to live longer, better with the highest state of well-being,” said Joseph F. Coughlin, director and founder of the MIT AgeLab. “Understanding our aging population, including Baby Boomers, the largest generation in our nation’s history, will be critical as we design policies and interventions to help older Americans thrive in all aspects of their lives.”