Noah, Liam, Sophia, Emma Are Top Baby Names Nationally, In Connecticut It’s William and Olivia

There are trends in names given to new born babies, and then there’s Connecticut. The Social Security Administration has released the top baby names by state for 2013, state-by-state. Emma remains the top girls' name, claiming the number one spot in 27 states. Liam, the top boys' name in 18 states, replaces last year's top state name, Mason.

The top names by state differ from the top national names overall, where Sophia and Noah take the top spots. For the first time since 1960, a new name unseated Michael or Jacob as the most popular for newborn boys, according to the Social Security Administration, which releases each year. Topping the list in 2013 was Noah. Among new born girls, Sophia held the top spot for the third year in a row.

In Connecticut, Olivia and William topped the list. Among girls names in Connecticut in 2013, the top five were: 1) Olivia, 235; 2) Isabella, 230; 3) Emma, 212; 4) Sophia, 210; and 5) Ava 188.

Olivia was also the top ranked girls name in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Utah and Vermont. Nearly every state in the nation was led by either Emma, Sophia, Olivia. Ava was the most favored girls name in three states: Louisiana, Delaware, and Mississippi. Only New Jersey, where Isabella topped Sophia, 618 to 607, Florida, where Isabella edged Sophia by 1,455 to 1,382, and the District of Columbia had a different girls name leading the list – Charlotte edged out Sofia in D.C., 53 to 48.

Among boys named in Connecticut in 2013, the leaders were: 1) William, 207; 2) Mason, 198; 3) Jacob, 193; 4) Noah, 192; 5) Michael, 187.

William was also the top ranked boys name in 13 other states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky and Minnesota. The top boys name in Massachusetts was Benjamin, the only state in the nation where it ranked first. Among the 50 states and D.C., the top ranked boys names included William, Mason, Jacob, Liam, Noah, Ethan (only in Nevada), and Jayden (only in Florida).

Nationally, the Top 10 names for boys were Noah, Liam, Jacob, Mason, William, Ethan, Michael, Alexander, Jayden and Daniel. The top names for girls were Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella, Ava, Mia, Emily, Abigail, Madison and Elizabeth.

More Bicycling, Walking to Work; New Haven Leads the Way in Connecticut

Connecticut has the smallest percentage of people walking to work among states in the Northeast, and is one of two states with the smallest percentage of people who bicycle to work, according to newly released U.S. Census data.  Nationwide, both walking and bicycling to work are on the rise. Between 2000 and 2008–2012, the number of workers in the U.S. who traveled to work by bicycle increased by 60.8 percent, from about 488,000 in 2000 to about 786,000. This increase in the number of bicycle commuters exceeded the percentage increase of all other travel modes during that period, but the overall share of workers who commute by bicycle remains low, according to the U.S. Census American Community Survey. In 1980, 0.5 percent of workers commuted by bicycle. This rate dropped to 0.4 percent in 1990, where it remained in 2000, before nudging upward in the latest survey.

The 2008–2012 5-year data show that, among the approximately 140 million workers in the United States during that period, 2.8 percent walked to work and 0.6 percent commuted by bicycle, compared with 86.2 percent of workers who drove alone or carpooled to work.

Among the nation’s medium sized-cities, (with populations between 100,000 and 199,999) New Haven ranks at #5 with 12.4 percent walking to work and at #10 with 2.7 percent of the population using bicycles to get to work. Hartford ranks at #10 among the top walk-to-work medium sized cities with 8.2 percent, and did not reach the top 15 in bicyclists.

The top medium-sized cities for percent of the population walking to work were Cambridge, Berkley, Ann Arbor, and Provo, just ahead of New Haven. The top bicycle-to-work medium sized cities were Boulder, Eugene, Berkeley, Cambridge, and Fort Collins.

The nation’s #1 walk-to-work city is Boston (15.1 percent) followed by Washington, Pittsburgh, New York, San Francisco and Madison. For bicycling to work, the top cities are Portland (6.1 percent), Madison, Minneapolis, Boise and Seattle.

The nationwide data indicates that:

• The combined rate of bicycle commuting for the 50 largest U.S. cities increased from 0.6 percent in 2000 to 1.0 percent in 2008–2012.
• The Northeast showed the highest rate of walking to work at 4.7 percent of workers, while the West had the highest rate of biking to work at 1.1 percent. The South had the lowest rate of biking and walking to work.
• Younger workers, those aged 16 to 24, had the highest rate of walking to work at 6.8 percent.
• At 0.8 percent, the rate of bicycle commuting for men was more than double that of women at 0.3 percent.

The percentage of workers age 16 and over who carpool to work is below 10 percent in each of Connecticut’s eight counties, with the exception of Windham County, at 10.5 percent.

Fairfield County has longest commute, most use of mass transit

The average commute to work in Connecticut is about 25 minutes, ranging from 28 minutes in Fairfield County, 27 minutes in Litchfield County, 26 minutes in Windham County, 25 minutes in Middlesex County and Tolland County, to 24 minutes in New Haven County, 23 minutes in New London County, and 22 minutes in Hartford County.

The highest percentage of workers using public transportation to reach their place of employment each day is in Fairfield County, at 8.9 percent, more than double the percentage of the next highest county, New Haven County, at 4.1 percent.

The Census Bureau released a new commuting edition of the interactive map Census Explorer, which gives Web visitors easy click-and-zoom access to commuting statistics for every neighborhood in the U.S. It also shows how commuting has changed since 1990 at the neighborhood, county and state level — including how long it takes to get to work, commutes longer than an hour, and number of bikers. It uses statistics from the American Community Survey, the national source of commuting statistics down to the neighborhood level.

CT Ranks #27 in Pedestrian Safety; Vulnerable User Law May Help

Connecticut ranks #27 out of 50 states in pedestrian safety, according to a new report from the National Complete Streets Coalition, a program of Smart Growth America. There were 351 Connecticut residents killed while walking during the decade from 2003 – 2012, data included in Dangerous by Design 2014, indicates. That represents 12.6  percent of the 2,780 traffic-related fatalities in the state during this period. The report ranks each state and the nation’s major metropolitan areas according to a Pedestrian Danger Index that assesses how safe pedestrians are while walking.

Among metropolitan areas, Hartford-East Hartford-West Hartford ranked #38 in the U.S. among the 50 with the highest “pedestrian danger index,” and at #37 in the percentage of traffic fatalities that were pedestrians.

The report also presents data on pedestrian fatalities and injuries by county and includes an online, interactive map showing the locations where people walking have been fatally struck by the driver of a vehicle. The report found that the majority of pedestrian deaths likely could have been prevented with safer street design.

The majority of pedestrian deaths occur on roadways that are dangerous by design — engineered and operated for speeding traffic with little to no provision for the safety of people walking, biking or using public transit.

This week, Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law a vulnerable user bill, which increases penalties on reckless drivers who injure or kill pedestrians, cyclists and other roadway users.

“Although Connecticut is home to many high-speed arterial roadways with little in the way of pedestrian accommodations, there are signs of progress," said Joseph Cutrufo, Connecticut Advocate for the Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "We’re optimistic that the passage of this law, which advocates have supported for over four years, will have a positive impact on the safety of Connecticut’s roads.”

In Connecticut from 2003 – 2010, the average pedestrian death rate for non-Hispanic whites was 1.34, while the rate for Hispanics was 1.42 and 1.49 for African-Americans.

In addition, while comprising just 13.8 percent of the total population, older adults over the age of 65 years old accounted for more than 28 percent of pedestrian fatalities between 2003 and 2010 and a pedestrian fatality rate of 2.76 in Connecticut. The worst state pedestrian fatality rates (per 100,000 persons aged 65 and older) are in Hawaii, California, New York, District of Columbia, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey Utah and Idaho.

“Older persons account for one in every five pedestrian fatalities and have the greatest fatality rate of any population group,” said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. “America’s state, federal and community leaders should focus on making our streets safer – which will benefit everyone, including the growing number of older Americans.”

During the decade, 35.2 percent of pedestrian deaths occurred on roadways with a speed limit of 40 mph or higher. 36.6 percent were on streets with a posted speed limit under 30 mph and just 0.3 percent of pedestrians died on streets with a speed limit of 20 mph or lower.

In New Haven-Milford, 15 percent of traffic deaths were pedestrians; in Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk the percentage was 14.4 percent, in Hartford-West Hartford–East Hartford, 12.9 percent, and in Norwich – New London, 11.5 percent.

CT Teen Completes Puzzle in World Record Time

Anyone who has ever labored over a puzzle on a rainy afternoon, take note. Fifteen-year-old Deepika Ravichandran, a resident of East Hampton and a junior at the University High School of Science and Engineering on the campus of the University of Hartford, is the latest Connecticut resident to earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. She has become the fastest in the world to complete the "GWR Hasbro Puzzle,” assembling the unique and challenging jigsaw puzzle at a rapid rate of 18 pieces per minute, completing the puzzle in 13 minutes and seven seconds. Her time beat the previous record of 13 minutes and 14 seconds.

The official Guinness World Records 250-piece jigsaw puzzle is an oval shape and has no guiding picture on the box. Most of the pieces are very similar in appearence.

“There are pieces that are such odd shapes, I don’t know what goes where,” she told the Middletown Press, which along with WFSB and India New England, reported on her accomplishment.

Although she acknowledges her ability to solve jigsaw puzzles quickly, which was first noticed when she was a toddler, she does not exactly know what makes her successful. “It’s my thing. I have a talent for it,” she told the Press. This was second attempt; on her first attempt at age 12, she missed the world record by 30 seconds.

Part of her world record attempt was to raise funds for her UNICEF high school club. She was hoping to raise enough to provide three meals for a day to 250 (one for each of the puzzle pieces) needy children.

Ravichandran has a strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics background from her time at Hartford’s Annie Fisher STEM magnet school. More than 30 people watched the world record attempt on May 9, including six official witnesses and a videographer who filmed the successful attempt in the University High School's resource room.

New Haven Ranks as Best Connecticut City for Jobs

The Best Cities for Jobs in America? They’re generally not in Connecticut, according to a new national analysis, but a number of the states' leading metropolitan areas are moving up the list compared with their counterparts across the country. The New Haven, Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, and Norwich-New London metropolitan areas all edged up the list compared with their rankings a year ago. Danbury dropped slightly. Hartford-East Hartford-West Hartford’s ranking was virtually unchanged.

The rankings of the nation’s cities was developed by the website newgeography, and published this week.

Among 92 Medium Sized Cities that were ranked, New Haven ranked #42 (up from #65 last year) and Bridgeport-Norwalk-Stamford ranked at #58 (up from #85 last year) and saw the 10th largest advance among the medium sized cities.

Danbury ranked #122 (down from #111 last year) and Norwich-New London at #231 (up from #233 last year) among 240 Small Sized Cities that were analyzed.

In the rankings of the nation’s Large Sized Cities, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford region ranked #48, nearly identical to last year’s ranking of #47. The top rated cities included San Jose, San Francisco, Austin, Raleigh, Houston, Nashville, New York City, Orlando, Dallas and Denver.

This year's rankings use five measures of growth to rank all 398 metro areas for which full data sets were available from the past 10 years.

• "Large" areas include those with a current nonfarm employment base of at least 450,000 jobs.
• "Midsize" areas range from 150,000 to 450,000 jobs.
• "Small" areas have as many as 150,000 jobs. This year’s rankings reflect the current size of each MSAs employment.

Among all 398 cities, New Haven and Danbury were the highest ranked from Connecticut, at #207 and #208 respectively. New Haven jumped 50 places in the overall ranking compared with last year; Danbury dropped 11 slots from a year ago.

The top-ranked city overall was Bismarck, North Dakota, which ranked first out of the 398 metro areas considered in the annual roundup of The Best Cities For Jobs. A metro area of 120,000 located in the country’s fastest-growing state and near the vast Bakken oil fields, the number of jobs in Bismarck is up 3 percent over the last year and 32.4 percent since 2002. Only one MSA—Modesto, CA—changed size categories moving from “Small” to “Midsized.”

The methodology for the 2014 rankings, according to newgeography, largely corresponds to that used in previous years, which emphasizes the robustness of a region's growth both recently and over time, with a minor addition to mitigate the volatility that the Great Recession has introduced into the time series. The rankings use five measures of growth to rank all 398 metro areas for which full data sets were available from the past 10 years.

The goal of the rankings methodology, according to the publication, is to capture a snapshot of the present and prospective employment outlook in each MSA and allow the reader to have a better sense of employment climate in each.

Included are all of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports monthly employment data. They are derived from three-month rolling averages of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics "state and area" unadjusted employment data reported from November 2002 to January 2014.

Northeast Utilities Becomes Title Sponsor of Hartford Marathon

The next Hartford Marathon, on October 11, 2014, will run under a new lead sponsorship banner, that of Northeast Utilities. Last October, more than 15,000 runners, tens of thousands of spectators, more than 1,200 volunteers, and 30 bands and local entertainers, flooded into the Capitol City  for the annual ING Hartford Marathon.  It was the last time they did so under the ING banner, as the company did not renew its sponsorship of the race following their sixth year as title sponsor. Prior to ING, United Technologies had been the title sponsor, following Aetna in the lead role in the marathon's early years.  The Hartford Marathon has served as an increasingly impactful economic stimulus to Greater Hartford, helping to fill hotel rooms, bars, restaurants, and other tourist attractions throughout the region. NU will be the new sponsor through at least 2016, officials said.

In 2013, the marathon - in its 20th year - brought in at least $14 million of economic value to the Hartford area, according to an analysis done for the Hartford Marathon Foundation by Avon-based Witan Intelligence Inc.  Race attendance was up 5.6 percent to 75,000 in 2013, based on police department estimates.

“We are thrilled to partner with Northeast Utilities, a New England company that shares our mission to support both the physical and economic wellness of our communities,” said Beth Shluger, Executive Director of the Hartford Marathon Foundation and Race Director of the 2014 NU Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.

ING U.S., with major operations in Windsor, ended its association with the state’s signature running event as it separates from its Dutch parent and is rebranded into a new company — Voya Financial.  ING U.S. also ended its title sponsorships of races in New York and Miami. The Miami race was run earlier this year without a title sponsor.

The Hartford Marathon Foundation had originally hoped to have a title sponsor in place by the end of 2013, but the search and negotiations took considerably longer, and some race materials for this year's race have already been circulated, in print and on line.  They are being revised and updated, as bright green becomes the new bright orange, as NU succeeds ING.

In addition to more than a dozen major sponsors drawn from the ranks of Connecticut’s leading corporations in recent years (including United Technologies, Hartford Hospital, Power Station, legrand, Aetna, Travelers, Baribault Jewelers and Executive Auto Group), volunteers  include staff members from Connecticut businesses, community groups and organizations that devote volunteers as a group service effort.In past years, staff volunteers from the title sponsor have taken the lead in anchoring water stations, handing out material (including medals for participants), and assisting in various capacities.

Hartford’s Post-Race is “one of the best in North America,” according to The Ultimate Guide to Marathons. The event has also developed a national reputation for extensive greening initiatives, and was certified as a "green race" in 2009 by the Council for Responsible Sport.    New last year were collaborative efforts with the UCONN EcoHusky Club and EcoHouse Learning Community and Hartford’s Knox Park.  Officials indicated that increased support services for runners will be provided in 2014, including special accommodations for active military and veterans. This year’s event will introduce solar power in Bushnell Park, a mark of its continuing commitment to sustainability, an important platform for both the Hartford Marathon Foundation and Northeast Utilities.

A month ago, the Hartford Marathon Foundation added Oz Griebel, of the Metro Hartford Alliance, and Robinson & Cole lawyer Andrea Donovan Napp to its 15-member board of directors. The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be healthy and fit. The Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes nearly 42 annual athletic events, including the Hartford Marathon, and 25 training programs.

Mystic Aquarium Honored at White House Ceremony with National Medal

Mystic Aquarium has earned some high profile attention this month, recognized at a White House ceremony hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama. The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) honored Mystic Aquarium as the only aquarium or zoo nationwide to receive its National Medal for Museum and Library Service for 2014. Impressively, Mystic Aquarium was one of four Connecticut finalists considered for the National Medal, along with the Hartford Public Library, Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury and Otis Library in Norwich. A total of only 30 institutions across the country were finalists, from which ten winners were ultimately chosen.

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to their communities. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, an independent agency of the U.S. government with the mission to create strong libraries and museums that connect people with information and ideas, is celebrating its 20th year of saluting institutions that make a difference for individuals, families and communities.

Mystic Aquarium gives back to the community with a direct financial impact of $72.2 million annually. In addition, the aquarium buys $5 million in services and supplies from Connecticut businesses annually. The institution’s conservation efforts protect the vitality of Long Island Sound, an important revenue-generating natural resource for Connecticut. It is the largest informal science education provider in Connecticut and Southeastern New England, reaching 100,000 students annually.

The work of Mystic Aquarium was brought to the attention of Susan H. Hildreth, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, by some of Connecticut’s most prominent cultural, education and government leaders. Rodney A. Butler, Mystic Aquarium Trustee and Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, nominated the Aquarium for the National Medal, noting the pivotal role the Aquarium plays with its education and cultural exchange program for Native American high school students from the village of Point Lay, Alaska, and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in southeastern Connecticut.

A major criterion for the award is the institution’s impact on members of its local community. Dr. Stephen M. Coan, President and CEO of Sea Research Foundation, the parent of Mystic Aquarium, who accepted the National Medal from Mrs. Obama, said: “We are honored to receive this prestigious award. We are committed to our educational and public engagement programs that make Mystic Aquarium not only an enjoyable family destination, but also a research facility dedicated to protecting our oceans and its aquatic creatures.”

U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy supported the nomination along with Stonington Public Schools, which cited the Aquarium’s exemplary work with young people with intellectual disabilities. Michael Cotela, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford extolled the Aquarium’s critical educational programming for underserved communities.

Founded in 1973, Mystic Aquarium has a collection of 4,000 animals, including such species as beluga whales and the endangered African Penguin.

PHOTO (Left to right): Justin Richard, Stephen M. Coan, Mrs. Obama.

Growing Aging Population Brings Shifting Priorities, Possibilities

“Given the gift of longer life, better health, greater engagement and more possibilities, the fifty-plus generation of today holds new and very different ideals,” A. Barry Rand, CEO of AARP, told a  national AARP convention audience in Boston last week that included more than 250 people from Connecticut. “The old story of aging was about freedom from work. The new story is about freedom to do something different,” he said of what was described as “The Age of Possibilities- America’s second aging revolution.”

With one of the nation’s largest populations of older citizens on a percentage basis, the changes ring especially true in Connecticut. Past U.S. Census data, for example, indicates that Connecticut has consistently ranked in the top tier of states in the percentage of residents age 65 and older, and as high as 5th (2010 census) in the percentage of population age 85 and older.  The Connecticut Post reported back in 2010 that Connecticut,  in less than a decade, moved from 15th in state rankings by the U.S. Census Bureau of people 65 years old and over to ninth-place -- seventh if those 60 and over are counted.

Between 2000 and 2010, Connecticut’s 65 and older population grew by 7.7 percent and the states’ 85 and older population grew by 32.1 percent, according to the U.S. Census.   Rand cited a series of national statistics that not only underscored his premise, but reflect that the demographic shift is already underway. Rand noted:

• Most people turning 50 today can expect to live another 30-plus years.
• They have over half their adult lives ahead of them. That’s more time than they spent in childhood, in adolescence, and for many, it’s more time than they spent working.
• By 2030, one in every three Americans will have reached the age of 50.
• At the same time, 10,000 people a day are turning 65 — and that will continue for the next 17 years.
• The fastest growing age group consists of people 85-plus.
• We’re quickly approaching a time when people 65 and older will outnumber children 15 and under for the first time in history.

“This reflects a monumental change in our social structure and how we live our lives,” Rand said.  AARP officials said that in Connecticut over the next 15 years (2010 to 2025), the total population is projected to grow by 275,254, an increase of eight percent. When looked at by age group, however, more distinct differences emerge:

• The percentage of individuals under age 18 will decrease by 11 percent.
• The percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 64 will only increase by three percent.
• In contrast, the percent of individuals age 65 and over will increase substantially, by 63 percent, due to the aging of the Baby Boom generation.

The Populations Reference Bureau reports that projections of the entire older population (which includes the pre-baby-boom cohorts born before 1946) suggest that 71.4 million people will be age 65 or older in 2029.

In Connecticut, when the state Department on Aging was established last year, officials indicated that the 65 and older population made up 14 percent of the state's population and was expected to grow to 21.5 percent of the population by 2030.

Red Sox-Yankees Divides Connecticut, Down to the ZIP Code

Connecticut’s Yankees-Red Sox divide is legendary. Now, thanks to technology, it’s also hyper-local - down to the ZIP code. Fan interest in various Major League Baseball teams, based on Google searches, was recently released, highlighting the dominance of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. They are searched for 3.8 and 3.7 times, respectively, more often than the league average, and more than 10 times as often as the least popular teams. The New York Mets placed sixth in the number of searches for the team worldwide.

The Yankees and Red Sox each generate about 30 percent more Google searches worldwide than the most popular NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, and almost 40 percent more than the most popular NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Montreal Canadiens, the most popular NHL team, aren’t particularly close to the most-searched teams in other leagues. The New York Times “The Upshot” took the data one step further, creating interactive maps using the data to develop estimates of team support based on how many Facebook users “liked” each team in a ZIP code.

A sampling of the results:

• Manchester (06040) - Red Sox 44%, Yankees 41%
• Bloomfield (06002) -Yankees 41%, Red Sox 40%
• Avon (06001) - Red Sox 41%, Yankees 39%
• South Windsor (06074) - Red Sox 44%, Yankees 40%
• Clinton (06413) - Yankees 41%, Red Sox 41%
• Windsor (06095) - Yankees 42%, Red Sox 42%

For his blog FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver investigated how each team does in Google search popularity compared to the size of its television market.  “The Yankees rank third even by this standard. But the Red Sox are a clear No. 1 and are about three times as popular as you’d guess from the size of the Boston media market. The Cardinals, Cubs, Giants, Pirates and Reds also over-perform relative to their market size,” Silver observed.

Of course, the Red Sox primary market is much bigger than Boston alone, as the data highlight. They are also the “local” team in the rest of New England, except for western Connecticut. Steve Rushin of Sports Illustrated has called the line running through Connecticut that separates Yankee fans and Red Sox fans the Munson-Nixon line. The name, which he coined a decade ago, is in honor of the late Yankee catcher Thurman Munson and the retired Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon.

The line may have varied slightly through the years, but as the new data indicates, hasn’t changed all that much. The close divisions within each town give some added texture to the divide.

Just in case Mets fans are wondering, they don’t fare well in the zip code search comparison. In the New York metropolitan area, they do not prevail in a single zip code. Even near CitiField, the Mets have a 28 percent to 48 percent deficit, with the zip code the stadium is actually listed in coming in at 53 percent to 25 percent. In New York, the Yankees win. In Connecticut, division reigns.

Who Knew? Northeast is Hotbed of Entrepreneurial Activity, For Some More than Others

Takes one to know one. Or, more accurately, know one and you may become one. That’s the bottom line of an exploration into entrepreneurship by a Kauffman Foundation researcher, who found that the Northeast is the best place to catch the entrepreneurial bug. As Connecticut sinks increasing dollars into initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship, develop jobs, and turn ideas into businesses (often with state financial incentives) the report offers guidance of factors influencing the frequency of entrepreneurial launches.  Connecticut Innovations,  established and supported by state government,  helps Connecticut businesses grow through creative financing and strategic assistance,  and is the nation's sixth most-active early stage investor.

The survey indicated that the likelihood of a person knowing entrepreneurs varied widely by location, income, gender, and age. Respondents were much more likely to know entrepreneurs if they were male, had modest income, or were middle-aged. And they were much less likely to know entrepreneurs (or be entrepreneurs) if they were female, had a higher income, or were located in the Midwest or South.

The study suggests that there could be “material increases in entrepreneurship simply through doing a better job of exposing people to existing entrepreneurs, especially peers or contemporaries.” Entrepreneurship grows, the study found, where it is planted.

Key factors to consider when attempting to encourage entrepreneurship, according to the study:

• Women have less exposure to growth entrepreneurs than men
• The young have much more exposure to growth entrepreneurs
• People in lower income strata are much less likely to be exposed to growth entrepreneurs

The study concluded that “In all cases, an individual’s exposure to entrepreneurs—and to growth entrepreneurs in particular—may increase his or her likelihood of being one. Entrepreneurship can be viral, but must be introduced early and often in environments where it is least often seen.”

The study distinguished between entrepreneurial companies and “growth entrepreneurial companies,” those companies growing more than 20 percent a year and with more than $1 million in sales, generate more employment and contribute more to wealth and GDP than do slower-growing ventures.

The likelihood of a respondent reporting knowing an entrepreneur in the United States was 36.7 percent. The likelihood of knowing a growth entrepreneur was considerably lower, at 15.4 percent.

When broken down by gender, the likelihood of males knowing an entrepreneur was 39.9 percent, females 35.8 percent. For growth entrepreneurs, the gender gap was considerably wide, 24.8 percent to 12.1 percent.

A year ago, CTNext, Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem managed by Connecticut Innovations (CI), announced the launch of the Entrepreneur Innovation Awards (EIA), a competitive pitch process that provides awards up to $10,000 to entrepreneurs in Connecticut for growth-related activities. CI helps innovative companies in four key ways: by offering equity, debt, grants and strategic guidance.

A month ago CTNext announced the winners of the latest round of EIA awards; Connecticut-based companies and entrepreneurs, received $10,000 for their project ideas. CI also selected David Wurzer, formerly a senior managing director at CI, to be chief investment officer and executive vice president. As part of his new role, Wurzer will be responsible for the management of the investment function, staffing needs, portfolio and risk management, outreach to stakeholders, budget planning and performance measurement.

The study “Getting the Bug: Is (Growth) Entrepreneurship Contagious?” was conducted by Paul Kedrosky of the Kansas City-based Kauffman Foundation, and is aimed at providing data to guide efforts across the country to grow entrepreneurship. The survey, which categorizes responses of 2,000 individuals by age, income, gender, and location, was done via Consumer Google Survey.