CERC is a nonprofit company funded primarily by utility companies with a mission of promoting Connecticut as a competitive business location. We specialize in economic development, research and marketing for local, regional, state and utility economic development entities. Through our accomplished, entrepreneurial staff of professionals and its vast network of consultants and strategic partners, CERC provides clients with the knowledge and insight they need to gain a competitive advantage.
CERC offers Connecticut economic development and related professionals with relevant expertise and a complete range of services - we can be a single source of assistance, providing everything from strategic planning and data gathering to implementation and follow up.
Here are just some of the ways we can help:
- Update or create marketing plans and implement creative tactics, events and web-based marketing
- Identify a community's competitive strengths and weaknesses
- Market cities and regions effectively
- Identify development best suited to communities
- Promote real estate
- Research, assemble and analyze demographic and business data
- Target industries and companies that complement existing business base
- Determine the fiscal impact of any proposed projects, whether retail, commercial, industrial, housing or mixed use
- Link clients to extensive public and private resources and industry clusters
- Conduct economic impact analyses
- Plan and implement business surveys
CERC is a pioneer in the development of programs, technologies and capabilities to support effective economic development. These include:
- CERC SiteFinderŽ - An up-to-the-minute, searchable database of available commercial and industrial properties in the state.
- CERC ProgramFinderŽ - An online, searchable database of state, federal and private business-assistance programs indispensable for business recruitment and retention.
- Connecticut's Business Response Center - The state's call center for businesses moving to, expanding within, or starting up in Connecticut, providing information on public and private business assistance programs.
- CERC DataFinderŽ - The most comprehensive set of national and Connecticut-specific demographic, business and municipal data available anywhere. This unique resource lets members select, compare and analyze information in ways never before possible, and create custom maps and reports on demand.
- E.D.D.I. - The Economic Development Data and Information (E.D.D.I.) system is a first-of-its-kind, centralized, searchable database of locality-specific economic and demographic information for all of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts and its metro areas, regions, and towns to help site selectors, real estate executives, researchers and companies determine the advantages of locating a business in the area.
- Research and GIS Mapping - If the data exist, CERC's research staff can obtain it -- then use our GIS (geographic information systems) capabilities to create maps to convey the information in a compelling, understandable way.
- Marketing - From printed materials that command attention to red-carpet tours, special events, web sites and more, CERC is the economic development community's most comprehensive -- and competitively priced -- integrated marketing agency. CERC has been a DAS-approved marketing vendor since 2002.
These are powerful tools. But CERC's greatest value lies in the talent and commitment of our people including our senior staff who together have nearly 100 years of economic development experience. The knowledge and commitment to customer service demonstrated by our staff have earned CERC a reputation for excellence in Connecticut's economic development community.