State Launches of $1.2 Million Campaign Promoting Fall Tourism Even as COVID Concerns Continue

State Launches of $1.2 Million Campaign Promoting Fall Tourism Even as COVID Concerns Continue

Governor Lamont announced that the Connecticut Office of Tourism is launching a $1.2 million fall marketing campaign to promote safe travel and fuel the Connecticut tourism industry’s continued economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic - inviting our neighbors in nearby states to come see Connecticut.

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Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, World's Largest, Will Not Reopen at QU

Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University, World's Largest, Will Not Reopen at QU

2022 will mark the 175th anniversary of the Great Hunger. Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University in Hamden is home to the world’s largest collection of artwork related to the topic of the Great Hunger, also known as the Potato Famine. Where that collection will be next year is now an open question.

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Connecticut Minimum Wage Increases; Mystic Museum Exceeds State Minimum

Connecticut Minimum Wage Increases; Mystic Museum Exceeds State Minimum

The minimum wage in Connecticut will increase from the current rate of $12.00 per hour to $13.00 per hour beginning on Sunday, August 1, 2021, the latest step in a five year plan to move the state’s minimum wage to $15.00 per hour on June 1, 2023. Mystic Seaport Museum will reach the final step sooner.

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Tourism Data Drives Launch of New Marketing Campaign as COVID Recedes

Nearly two-thirds of residents in the Northeast said in a recent survey that once they are vaccinated they will feel comfortable engaging in tourism activities, including seeing live performances, attending festivals, and enjoying indoor attractions. The faster the vaccine rollout, the faster visitation will increase. That was the finding of a new, proprietary research program aimed at supporting the Connecticut tourism industry’s recovery.

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Connecticut Office of the Arts Designates the State’s First “Cultural District” in Ridgefield

Connecticut Office of the Arts Designates the State’s First “Cultural District” in Ridgefield

The State Department of Economic and Community Development’s (DECD) Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) has approved an application from the Town of Ridgefield to establish a Cultural District in town. Ridgefield is the first municipality in the state to receive the designation.

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CT Communities Look to Propel Post-Pandemic Economic Growth

CT Communities Look to Propel Post-Pandemic Economic Growth

As Connecticut communities look to rebound from an economy that has, in many ways, slowed for the better part of a year, Julie Nash, Economic Development Director for the city of Milford, is among those looking forward to “seeing what’s coming next and being in the forefront of making those policy decisions.”

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Advocates for Connecticut Cities & Towns and Downtowns Forge New Collaboration

Advocates for Connecticut Cities & Towns and Downtowns Forge New Collaboration

As Connecticut seeks to energize its economy after a year of COVID-related closures and lockdowns, advocates for vibrant downtowns and communities all across the state - Connecticut Main Street Center (CMSC) and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) - announced a strategic partnership,

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