Opinion

The Connecticut Dept. of Economic & Community Development held a series of community forums, and invited citizens to present their concerns and economic development strategy recommendations to DECD Commissioner, Joan McDonald.

Send us your ideas for the CT Economy!

Matthew Nemerson presented at the New Haven and Hartford forums, and suggested the following (in the spirit of David Letterman's top 10 list):

The Connecticut Technology Council Top 10 List:
Technology-based economic development ideas for the Connecticut Legislature

10 – Increase foreign marketing and trade show presence – return to being an involved international player and catch up with southeast and larger states.  

9 – Improve Mass Transit – development starts with great transportation, links to NYC and on to rest of the world. Consider commuter rail line expansion and trolleys.  

8 – Reorganize the state departments and establish one plan – get people at the same table – DECD, CI, CDA, OWC, Labor, Transportation, UConn, CSUS, CC. Establish the same strategy and systems approach.  One plan with many partners and one set of deliverables.  

7 – Encourage Affordable Housing & Urban Development – make Connecticut more attractive to 25 to 35 year-olds and young families by developing the mill towns of the route 8 corridor, they need to be tied-in to expanding Hudson Valley and be seen as real alternatives to New York.  

6 – Promote STEM Education – comprehensive high school reform, regional magnet schools that compete with the best private schools and more strategic attraction of families to cities. Offer scholarships through UConn and CSUS for STEM high performers  

5 – Offer attractive incentives to entrepreneurs – tax credits that attract early stage investments are crucial. Structured well, this state-wide commitment to entrepreneurs will grab global attention added to modifications of the R&D Credits, we should target mobilizing capital for innovation.  

4 – Push for Tech Transfer out of Universities – as well as more research money going in. Stem cell money is a good start, but other states are investing $100ms.  

3 – Support large businesses – we need a platform of major employers, branch out from financial services, high tech manufacturing and R&D should be on the map. Support for key industries such as clean energy and advanced digital imaging would get noticed.  

2 – Work Regionally – Don’t get bogged down in “townism” – work at the state level and seek to assign organizations roles that we should playing and then hold us to deliverables.

1 – Be Bold – Come to us with a bold plan and ask for support for a multi billion initiative including annual TBED funding and capital improvements.