Waterbury, Hartford, Simsbury Achieve National “Main Street” Recognition

Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) has announced that three Connecticut Main Street designated organizations have been accredited as 2013 National Main Street Programs for meeting organizational performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center.  Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Upper Albany Main Street (Hartford) and Main Street Waterbury have been recognized for outstanding accomplishments toward the goal of revitalizing their historic main street districts following the Main Street methodology.  The announcement was made during the 2013 National Main Streets Conference in New Orleans.

"We congratulate this year's accredited National Main Street Programs for meeting our established performance standards," said Valecia Crisafulli, Acting Director of the National Trust Main Street Center. "Rebuilding a district's economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement and support, in addition to establishing a solid organization with sound management that is committed to long-term success."

National Main Street Program Accreditation is a partnership between Connecticut Main Street Center and the National Trust Main Street Center to establish standards of performance for local Main Street programs. These standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual Main Street program's application of the Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization, which includes Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring.

Evaluation criteria determine the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as development and commitment to mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing a stable operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving and bringing back to life historic buildings. These standards provide benchmarks and guidelines on how Main Street organizations should be functioning and serve as incentives for improvement.

Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) is a statewide nonprofit that inspires great Connecticut downtowns, Main Street by Main Street. Its mission is to be the champion and leading resource for vibrant and sustainable Main Streets as foundations for healthy communities.   Since the Connecticut Main Street program began in 1995, designated Main Street programs have generated over $1 billion in public and private reinvestment in their downtowns. Over the same time, 425 net new businesses have opened and 2,538 net new jobs have been created.

Connecticut's 2013 National Main Street Programs

Simsbury Main Street Partnership, designated in 1995, describes its focus as "forward-thinking economic development within the context of historic preservation, so that Simsbury's assets and legacy can be passed on to future generations." Designated a Preserve America Community by the White House in 2006, the Partnership works to integrate Simsbury Center's shopping, civic and entertainment activities into community heritage tourism opportunities. Through its partnership with the Town and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Simsbury Main Street Partnership has linked downtown restaurants and merchants to visitors to the Talcott Mountain Music Festival by establishing an outdoor vendor program where concert-goers can purchase food and drink and retail items. Simsbury was named by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the 2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations. More about Simsbury Main Street Partnership can be found at www.shopsimsbury.com

Upper Albany Main Street is "an economic development engine in Hartford working to improve the environment for small businesses, promote entrepreneurship, and establish Albany Avenue as a vibrant Afro-Caribbean neighborhood destination of choice." Designated by Connecticut Main Street Center in 2001, Upper Albany Main Street continues to position the organization to meet the socio-economic challenges of the neighborhood by addressing leadership development, and engaging residents in the entrepreneurial initiatives on the Avenue. Through its partnerships with the University of Hartford, the City of Hartford and the Metro Hartford Alliance, the Main Street program has developed the award-winning Micro-Business Incubator program, and a Public Safety initiative which has resulted in the Avenue being named a Weed & Seed Community by the U.S. Department of Justice. More about Upper Albany Main Street can be found at www.upperalbany.com

Main Street Waterbury, designated a Connecticut Main Street Community in 2003, has been guided by a commitment to building community consensus around the need to bring downtown back to life through a culture of collaboration. Forming a unique partnership with the City, the Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Waterbury Development Corporation, Main Street Waterbury has been successful in bringing people back to downtown through its special events, community forums, and by focusing on a strategy of "Waterbury at Night"; recruiting restaurants and creating a downtown environment which encourages and complements activity around the existing entertainment destinations in downtown. Downtown Waterbury has seen the rehabilitation of a number of downtown's historic vacant and under-utilized mixed-use buildings, providing market-rate residential development on upper floors. More information about Main Street Waterbury can be found at www.mainstreetwaterbury.com

CMSC is supported by Founding Sponsors, the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) and The Connecticut Light and Power Company, and by Growth Sponsors, The United Illuminating Company and the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office. For more information, visit www.ctmainstreet.org

Movie Ticket Sales Up in 2012; Industry Cites Value vs. Sports, Theme Parks

Despite an increasing number of alternative forms of entertainment as technology continues to advance, the motion picture industry reminds us that movie theaters continue to draw more people than all theme parks and major U.S. sports combined. Noting that the average cinema ticket price increased by 3 cents in 2012, less than the 2% increase in inflation, the industry uses the comparisons to highlight the dollar value they provide to families nationwide.  Comparisons to other forms of entertainment, including video games and internet programming, was not included in the industry’s “Theatrical Market Statistics 2012” report.

A movie “still provides the most affordable entertainment option,” costing under $40 dollars for a family of four, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, as compared with $107.92 to attend a major league baseball game, $199.00 to attend one of the nation’s leading theme parks, $203.96 to go to an NBA game, $244.04 at an NHL arena, and $313.52 to attend an NFL game.

More than two-thirds of the population in the U.S. and Canada (age 2+) went to the cinema at least once in 2012, and the “typical moviegoer” bought six tickets during the year, a slight increase from the previous year.  A total of 1.4 billion tickets were sold during the year.

Among the nation’s 12 most populous states, 74 percent of the population of Illinois saw a movie in 2012, the highest share in any of those states.  Data pertaining to Connecticut was not released. Cinema ticket sales continue to be driven by frequent moviegoers –those who go to the movies once a month or more. Frequent moviegoers represent 13% of the population but purchased 57% of all tickets sold in 2012.

“I am happy to report that in 2012, both global and domestic box office were up and so were domestic admissions,” said former Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the MPAA. “It’s a powerful reminder of just how much movies matter – not just to our culture, but also to our economy. Our industry supports 2.1 million jobs in the United States and more than 120,000 of those jobs are in movie theaters.”

The  top movies of 2012, by attendance:  The Avengers, The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games, Skyfall and Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.

Stamford Ranks #7 Among Most Expensive Places to Live in U.S.

Stamford has been ranked as the seventh most expensive place to live in the United States, according to a report by CBS Moneywatch. The Council for Community and Economic Research measured prices of common items in 307 urban areas across the country to create the list, the survey said. The study gave Stamford a cost of living index of 146.1 for 2012, the national average is 100.

The “market prices” that served as the data for the survey included the price of a half-gallon of milk, monthly rent, home prices, a gallon of gas, a haircut, and a bottle of wine.

Three of New York City’s boroughs – Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens – were also in the top 10.  Stamford was just ahead of Washington, D.C.  Boston rounded out the top 10.  A year ago, Stamford ranked #6 in the survey.

The Council for Community and Economic Research, headquartered in Arlington, VA,  promotes excellence in community and economic research by working to improve data availability, enhance data quality, and foster learning about regional economic analytic methods.

The top 10 most expensive places, according to CBS Moneywatch:

1. Manhattan 2. Brooklyn 3. Honolulu 4. San Francisco 5. San Jose 6. Queens 7. Stamford 8. Washington, D.C. 9. Orange County, CA 10. Boston

Women-Owned Firms Propel Economic Growth, CT Ranked #22

Connecticut ranks 22^nd in the “economic clout” of women-owned firms, according to a new study which averages each states’ ranking in the growth of the number, revenue and employment levels of women-owned firms between 1997 and 2013. The number of women-owned businesses in Connecticut increased 35 percent since 1997 and sales at those firms increased by nearly 67 percent,  in an analysis of U.S. Census data by American Express Open.  The review of state-by-state and national data estimates the number of Connecticut businesses owned by women increased to 97,800 this year. Those businesses will have $15.5 billion in sales and employ 92,200 workers in 2013, according to The 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report.   Connecticut firms exceeded the national average in hiring employees (up 17 percent in the state vs. 10 percent nationally) and in sales growth (67 percent vs. 63 percent).

As of 2013, it is estimated that there are over 8.6 million women-owned businesses in the United States, generating over $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7.8 million people. The American Express analysis showed Connecticut still lags behind the 59 percent national average in growth among women-owned businesses since 1997.

Driving Growth

Between 1997 and 2013, when the number of businesses in the United States increased by 41%, the number of women-owned firms increased by 59%— a rate 1½ times the national average.

The report noted that in the six years since the beginning of the recession in 2007, private sector job growth in the United States has come from two main sources: large, publicly traded corporations, and privately-owned majority women-owned businesses.

Women of Color

In 1997, there were just under 1 million (929,445) firms owned by women of color, accounting for one in six (17%) women-owned firms. That number has skyrocketed to an estimated 2,677,700 as of 2013, now comprising one in three (31%) women-owned firms.

The number of firms owned by Latinas are estimated at 944,000 as of 2013, according to the analysis. These firms employ 408,100 workers and generate an estimated $65.5 billion in revenue. Latina women own 36% of all Latino-owned firms, employ 20% of the workers employed by Latino-owned firms, and contribute 16% of the revenue generated by Latino-owned businesses. While nationally 11% of women-owned firms are owned by Latinas, they comprise the greatest share of all women-owned firms in New Mexico (29%), Texas (25%), Florida (24%) and California (20%).

Across All Industries

The states with the fastest growth in the number, employment and revenues of women-owned firms are the District of Columbia, North Dakota, Nevada, Wyoming and Georgia. The states with the lowest growth in the number of women-owned firms between 1997 and 2013 are: Alaska (12%), West Virginia (23%), Iowa (23%), Ohio (27%) and Kansas (27%).  Among the nation’s 25 most populous metropolitan areas, the fastest growing for women-owned firms are San Antonio TX, Portland OR, Houston TX, Riverside CA, and Washington DC/MD/VA.

Women-owned firms continue to diversify into all industries. The industries with the highest concentration of women-owned firms are: health care and social assistance (53% of firms in this sector are women-owned, compared to a 29% share overall), educational services (45%), other services (41%), and administrative support and waste management services (44%).

The industries with the lowest concentration of women-owned firms (in industries contributing 2% or more of the business population) are construction (where just 7% of firms are women-owned), transportation and warehousing (11%) and finance and insurance (20%). All other industries are close to the 29% share in all industries—illustrating that women-owned firms are staking a claim in all sectors of the U.S. economy.

Connecticut's overall ranking at #22 falls between Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Young Adult Unemployment Rates Persist at High Levels, Education Remains Key Factor

Analyzing the enduring economic effects of youth unemployment, a new report by Demos outlines a serious job crisis, especially those with less education and individuals of color.  Surveying a full year of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2012, Stuck: Young America’s Persistent Jobs Crisis shows that 18 to 34 year-olds make up 45% of the total share of the unemployed population nationwide and continue to face a serious jobs gap—with 4.1 million new jobs needed to return to pre-recession levels of employment. Among the report’s key findings:

• Young adults gained little ground in 2012. Altogether, there are more than 5.6 million 18 to 34-year-olds, 45 percent of all unemployed Americans, who are willing and able to take a job, but have been shut out of opportunities for employment.
• Young adult Hispanic workers experience unemployment rates 25 percent higher than those of whites, while African Americans face rates approximately double.
• The greatest differences were attributed to education: the unemployment rate for 18 to 24 year olds with a Bachelor’s degree was 7.7% compared to 19.7% for those with a high school diploma.
• In 2012, the labor force participation rate of 18 to 24 year olds declined to its lowest point in more than four decades.
• Workers with a four-year degree are 9 to 12 percentage points more likely to be in the labor market than workers with a high school diploma in every age group. The unemployment rate for workers with a high school diploma is twice as high as unemployment among workers with a Bachelor’s degree

The findings update data provided in 2012 to the Connecticut Commission on Children and Connecticut Workforce Development Council, which indicated that teenage labor force participation had dropped 48.2 percent over the past 22 years across the US, and employment rates were lowest among teens of color.   The Commission and Council held a public forum on youth unemployment last year, noting that “For young people, the Great Depression isn't a history lesson - it's a current event.  While the overall unemployment rate hovered around 8 percent last summer, it stood at 17.3 percent for those between the ages of 16 and 24.”  The new Demos report suggests that progress has been negligible in the year since.

Demos is a public policy organization “working for an America where we all have an equal say in our democracy and an equal chance in our economy.”  The organization is led by former Connecticut Secretary of the State Miles Rapoport, and has offices in New York, Washington and Boston.   The new report indicates that if job growth continues at 2012 levels,  “it will be another ten years before the country recovers to full employment. Even then, workers under 25 will face unemployment rates twice the national average.”

The Demos report recommends that “Public investment to directly employ young adults—especially young adults of color and those without a college degree—could address the jobs crisis facing this generation, contribute to the recovery through increased consumer spending, and accomplish the kind of strong, stable, and diverse society that we envision for our future.”

State Grant Backs Transforming UConn Research into Start-Up Companies

UConn Ventures and the University of Connecticut’s Office of Economic Development (OED) have been selected to receive a state grant to provide technical assistance and training for small and medium sized businesses.  The $220,000 grant was awarded by the Department of Economic and Community Development as part of the state agency’s Economic Development Grants Program. UConn Ventures will apply the state funding in support of its mission to seek out university-based research innovations, assess their commercial potential, and provide resources to address the management, market, and technology associated with launching a new venture.

The initiative aims to help migrate technologies developed in UConn’s research labs, including the UConn Health Center, to support early-stage companies and small business expansion.  UConn Ventures will work with research faculty in providing technical assessments and direct support that result in product development, testing and creation as well as fundable plans to launch either a new business or a new product or process.   UConn Ventures will focus use of the grant funds on efforts to:

• support work to develop data, prototypes and test both technical and market relevancy in order to deploy new technologies and processes,
• expose academic scientists to industry processes, experts and needs, thus impacting the course of future research in ways that will support industry and the economy,
• engage Connecticut entrepreneurs and industry members from small business who may be potential investors, owners, licensees, CEO’s, or champions,
• establish and further relationships that will support and advance a culture of innovation in Connecticut.

Plans call for two levels of financial support to fledgling companies under the program: 1) to assess and mitigate technical and market risks of a technology, and 2) to commercialize projects that have established proof of concept and identified a commercialization path.

“Our work is all about innovation, entrepreneurship, and scale,” said R. Mark Van Allen, President of UConn Ventures.  “We seek out university-based research innovations, assess their commercial potential, and provide resources to address the management, market, and technology risks associated with new venture formation.  We appreciate the state’s support of our work, and the reinvigorated commitment of the University and the Department of Economic and Community Development to help us to accelerate business creation and development.”

UConn Ventures, aligned with the University’s Office of Economic Development, creates business start-ups by guiding the development process, soliciting funding and recruiting management based on technologies invented by UConn students, faculty and staff.  It is a subsidiary of the UConn Foundation.  Financial benefits accrue to the individuals whose research innovation is at the core of the start-up business, and UConn.

“The Office of Economic Development is committed to applying resources in ways that will better support technology transfer and industry partnership,” said Mary Holz-Clause, UConn Vice President for Economic Development.  “UConn Ventures offers precisely the expertise and experience that is essential to successfully commercialize great research and great ideas, and their organization will play a pivotal role in building future successes.”

More information about UConn Ventures and the Office of Economic Development is available at www.uconnventures.com.

Antiques Trail May Be Mapped Across Connecticut

State legislators are considering the establishment of a Connecticut Antiques Trail, an effort to highlight the state's numerous antique shops, and boost tourism and economic development along the way. The proposal, by Sen. Rob Kane of Watertown, follows a 2009 initiative in which he worked with the state Department of Transportation to erect signs along Interstate 84 to highlight a collection of antique shops in his district, the Associated Press reported.  As part of that effort,  the town of Woodbury was designated as the “Antiques Capitol of Connecticut," centered around a local trail that features more than 35 diverse shops.

Highlighting the scores of antique shops throughout the state has generated other initiatives. Ed Dombroskas,   the current executive director of the Eastern Regional Tourism District (billed as “Mystic Country” ) and a past state tourism director, supports the statewide plan.  His organization recently put together an antiques brochure for his region and received thousands of inquiries seeking copies.  The brochure Mystic Country Antiques Trail, includes 30 locations across Eastern Connecticut and is now available on-line.

Antiques shops – and some larger antique stores – blanket the Connecticut landscape, each noting their particular attributes and history.  The Connecticut Antiques Center, in Stamford, for example, touts its easy access to New York City.  Kane said it makes sense to expand the trail statewide to connect more antiques dealers with collectors, comparing the plan to the Connecticut Wine Trail.

Just this past weekend, the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington held an antiques and heirlooms appraisal day featuring a regular from the PBS program “Antiques Roadshow,” telecast locally on Connecticut Public Television and a perennial viewer favorite.  And the Connecticut Spring Antiques Show, celebrating its 40^th anniversary, was held earlier this month, March 16-17, at the Hartford Armory.

After-School Network Highlights Accomplishments, Fights for Budget

The lengthy corridor between the State Capitol building and the Legislative Office Building routinely hosts informational poster displays on its walls, in two-week cycles, from a broad range of agencies, organizations and associations, highlighting their work and the impact it has on the state.  Reservations for the space are routinely made weeks in advance. One of the current displays, coordinated by the Connecticut After School Network, comes at a time when they – like many other nonprofit organizations and state agencies – are facing a potential budget cut from the state, at the urging of Gov. Malloy.  Ultimately it is the state legislature that will determine the parameters of the budget, a debate underway throughout the Capitol complex amongst legislators who pass by the posters each day, with messages and statistics that are hard to miss.  Among them:

• After-school programs cut the risk of juvenile crime by as much as 75%
• In Connecticut, 19% of children under the age of 18 experience food hardship.  Many rely on the meals they get at school and in after-school programs as a primary source.
• $1.7 to $2.3 million is saved by putting one high-risk youth on the right path.
• 73% of working parents miss less work when their children attend an after-school program.
• Students in after-school programs are 50% more likely to finish high school
• One in five Connecticut children (21%) regularly spends time after school unsupervised. This translates to more than 80,000 Connecticut children
• Children and youth involved in after-school programs have fewer absences from school.

March 7 was “After School Day at the Capitol.” The organization released a major report "Supporting Student Success in Connecticut: A BluePrint for Expanded Learning Opportunities".   The report calls on the state to make “7 smart, strategic investments,” reflecting that “after-school not be an after thought.”  The recommendations include addressing the issues of summer learning loss, incorporating expanded learning opportunities into the state’s education reform strategies, increasing alignment between systems and funding sources, rethinking the relationship between time and learning, and strengthening quality and accountability.

Their website currently features a petition urging restoration by legislators of the $4.5 million proposed cut and is promoting the organization’s 7th Annual Literacy Essentials Conference, to be held on Saturday, April 6 in conjunction with Central Connecticut State University.

The organization’s web site also points out that “every dollar invested in after school programs will save taxpayers approximately $3, not including the savings from reduced crime.”

The Connecticut After School Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization originally founded in 1989 and incorporated in 1990 under the name Connecticut School Age Care Alliance (CSACA). In 1990, CSACA became affiliated with the National School Age Care Alliance (now the National After-School Association).

Following similar action by the national organization, CSACA changed its name and broadened its mission in 2006, becoming the Connecticut After School Network.  It is a partnership of individuals and organizations working to ensure that every Connecticut child and youth will have the opportunity to participate in high quality, affordable after school programs.

The State Department of Education is a significant partner and major funder of the Network, providing leadership, support and technical assistance. SDE also oversees the CT After-School Advisory Council which provides advice and direction to the Network.

Efforts to Close the Digital Divide Prompts Company Move To Hartford

GreenShare Technology is a company that takes its mission – to bridge the digital divide by providing technology to those who cannot afford it – quite seriously.  That is plainly evident in their move from Farmington to new, larger headquarters at 1200 Park Street in Hartford. The new, 2,000 square foot location doubles the company’s space, allowing GreenShare Technology to bring more affordable computers and computer maintenance services to Hartford and surrounding areas. The company plans to provide basic computer training and computer recycling services on-site. The new location will also contain a retail section where customers can try out computers before purchasing them.

“We’re excited to become a part of the Hartford community,” said Brenda Steigman, Executive Director of GreenShare Technology. “It is our goal to become a one-stop source for low-cost computer technology and repair. We hope this new location will make us more accessible to the people who can benefit from our services.”

GreenShare Technology will host an open house at its new location Thursday, March 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. The public is welcome to stop by to learn more about the company’s services and bring an unwanted computer to be re-purposed or recycled. For more information, visit www.greensharetechnology.org or call 860-724-3535.

A 501(c) (3) charitable organization and Microsoft® registered refurbisher, Greenshare Technology offers computer recycling services for businesses and families to discard unwanted technology, keeping working computers out of landfills and putting them into the hands of small businesses, schools, non-profit organizations, government programs, and other eligible customers who might otherwise not have access to this technology.

GreenShare Technology received the 2011 Social Entrepreneur Award and the 2010 Hartford Young Professionals & Entrepreneurs (HYPE) Award.  The company is a reSET incubator program.

CT Receives Recognition for Economic Development

The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development has received national recognition from a top site selector organization for its economic development efforts.  DECD was selected to receive the 2013 Site Selectors Guild Award for its work with Tronox Inc., a chemical company that announced in 2012 that it would be locating its world headquarters in Stamford.  The Site Sectors Guild is a professional association that includes some of the worlds most respected site consultants. The most recent recognition underscores ongoing efforts of DECD, which include highlighting Connecticut's strong position to attract and grow businesses.  Some of the noteworthy stats:

• Connecticut is a leader in patents, ranking 8th in the nation.
• Connecticut is a leader in business research and development, ranking #1 per capita.
• Connecticut is a global competitor, ranking #6 in world GDP per capita.
• Connecticut’s workers are among the most productive in the nation, ranking fourth among states.
• Connecticut is a leader in venture capital deals, which are key to the development of small business, ranking #7.
• The state ranks 9th in the nation as a leader in the New Economy.
• Connecticut is a leader in finance and insurance, ranking #2 in total employment.
• Connecticut is a leading exporter ranking tenth in per capita exports.
• Connecticut has a highly educated workforce ranking third with an adult population with advanced degrees.
• Connecticut ranks 6th in the number of scientists & engineers per 100,000 employees.

The data, provided by CL&P's Connecticut Economic Review 2013 and The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, reflects a mix of widely known and virtually unknown stats about Connecticut workforce and global position in a range of industries.