Conference on Economic Growth Spurs Policy and State Competitiveness Discussion
11/07/2007
Contact:
Kristi Sullivan, 860-571-6213
The 2007 Research and Policy Conference, Communities, Connecting to Compete, will be held on Friday, November 9th at Northeast Utilities in Berlin. The conference kicks off the recently announced partnership of the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) and the Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century, together seeking to promote a discussion of current issues regarding Connecticut's economic growth and develop recommendations to improve and sustain the state's competitiveness.
Public and private leadership are expected to attend, including legislators Brendan Sharkey, Joseph Crisco, John Mckinney, Diana Urban, Peter Villano, Patricia Widlitz and Bruce Zalaski. Among those slated to speak are Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Joan MacDonald, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, Ray Necci of Northeast Utilities, John Simone of Connecticut Main Street, Mike Goman of Konover, David Fink of Partnership for Strong Communities, Lyle Wray of the Connecticut Regional Council of Governments, and Robert Santy of CERC.
Subjects such as "how to organize and build a successful community" and "private investment in urban centers" will be addressed during a panel and break out sessions. In addition, conference keynote speaker Dr. Theodore Hershberg, Professor of Public Policy and History and Director of the Center for Greater Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania, will add his insight and global context about the issues. CERC will also be releasing a study centered on the state's metropolitan-suburban connectivity and how Connecticut's urban areas can continue to compete on a regional, national and global level.
Among this year's sponsors of the conference and report are Webster Bank, Konover Development Corporation, Infracycle, and Wiggin and Dana. For more information, visit www.cerc.com.
About CERC
Based in Rocky Hill, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that provides objective research, marketing and economic development services to local, regional, state and utility entities and policymakers. CERC is a public-private partnership, funded primarily by utility and telecommunication companies, with a mission of making Connecticut a more competitive business location.
About the Regional Institute
The Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century, an alliance of Connecticut's top public, private and institutional leaders, was formed in 1999 to help guide the economic future of the state and its cities and towns in the global marketplace. The group provides continuing opportunities for its members and others to analyze issues affecting Connecticut's sustained economic success and formulate strategies for regional growth.
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