Legislative Agenda

The Connecticut Economic Development Association, Inc (CEDAS) advances the practice of economic development in Connecticut.  The organization’s 190 professional members exchange best-practice methods and share information to promote healthy communities, sustainable revenues and job creation.

The Connecticut Economic Development Association’s (CEDAS) policy committee has identified its top legislative issues for the 2009 sessions.  It asks the legislature to consider the following:

Top Priorities:

• Make the development of the state’s economic strategic plan more transparent and inclusive.  CEDAS’ members, specifically the local and regional practitioners, feel that they can add to the substance and success of the ultimate plan if they included in the drafting of the plan.
• The State of Connecticut should continue to fund the Smart Start & CTClic.com Programs.  These programs assist new and expanding businesses navigate the sea of permits and licenses required to do business in our state.  During these economic times, these services are critically important.
• The State of Connecticut should continue to fund and better coordinate its workforce training and development efforts.  In particular, there needs to be a significant increase in funding for Incumbent Worker Training.
• Make Connecticut's brownfield liability laws more workable, specifically relating to redevelopment of brownfield sites adjacent to waterways.
• Connecticut’s economic development professionals should pursue a coordinated structured business visitation program to better understand the needs and serve Connecticut’s business and industry.
• The State of Connecticut should fund and establish a certified sites program.
• The State of Connecticut should fast track infrastructure projects.
• The state should differentiate itself with good tax/regulatory policy.  i.e.: film tax credits, insurance premium tax credits, angel investor tax credits.  Legislators should resist adoption of tax policy that negatively distinguishes our state.
• The State of Connecticut should have a budget to market itself as a business destination.  The state should fund $1.5 million to be matched by the private sector to market itself as a business destination.  The Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) would administer this initiative.
   

The CEDAS Policy Committee also asks that the legislature consider the
following:

• Insure that Connecticut Development Authority and Connecticut
• Innovations maintain their ability to lend in this fiscal environment.
• Market the state and identify international leads.
• Invest in sub-base New London.
• Require economic impact statements for all new legislation.
• Provide guidance to ‘08 LEED Certification legislation.
• Establishment of training programs for new members of local economic development commissions and land use boards.
• Build on the insurance and financial services cluster strength.
• Make certain that “Responsible Growth” legislation doesn’t make our state less competitive.
• Build on historic presence in nuclear/fuel cells technologies sector.
• Embark on best practices in economic development research project.
  
  Please feel free to call upon us.  Our members are ready and willing to support and assist the State of Connecticut.  Please feel free to contact me.           

Mark Waterhouse
President, CEDAS
mwaterhouse@snet.net
860-379-7449