With the opportunity to showcase Bridgeport”™s priorities for an upcoming statewide economic plan, new Mayor Bill Finch was a no-show, designating an aide as a stand-in as he tended to other matters.
Not that Finch need not take any guff ”“ 144,460 of his constituents were no-shows as well.
Fewer than 50 Bridgeport residents attended a forum held by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, one of 10 meetings DECD is holding statewide to solicit input for a state economic plan the agency is developing. Held at the University of Bridgeport on Jan. 10, it was the first such meeting held in Fairfield County.
Authorized by the Connecticut General Assembly and Gov. Jodi Rell, the plan is to provide a blueprint for state economic policy over the next two decades.
Before the sparse audience, 15 people testified to DECD Commissioner Joan McDonald, including Edward Lavernoich, interim deputy director of economic development who represented Finch”™s fledgling administration; and Paul Timpanelli, the chief executive officer of the 1,000-member Bridgeport Regional Business Council, whom Finch named last week to his economic advisory committee.
McDonald said there were no surprising ideas to come out of the testimony, but noted residents can still submit feedback via the email address ctstrategicplan@ct.gov. She added that forums in other cities have generated similar size audiences to that in Bridgeport, in line with her expectations given the long-term nature of the planning process.
Encouraged at the outset by DECD economist Stan McMillen to think “outside the box” ”“ a kickoff in Litchfield County brought a plea for a new nuclear power plant ”“ several speakers in Bridgeport instead used the opportunity to reiterate the city”™s needs for housing, health care insurance and access, and worker training.
Lavernoich was the lone speaker to address among Bridgeport”™s most intractable problems ”“ a large number of mildly contaminated brownfield properties blighting its streets, making the city an unappealing location for the development of office buildings that can attract high paying jobs.
The city is still hopeful that escalating lease rates in Norwalk and points southwest will encourage companies to scout space in Bridgeport. To that end, Finch is making the “greening” of Bridgeport a top priority and the city is laying plans for a village-style “core” downtown.
“We tend to feel that projects here need less in terms of state investment, because private enterprise has no choice but to move up the line and look at Bridgeport,” Lavernoich said.
If that has executives snickering cracks about Bridgeport decay, they shouldn”™t be, according to Joe McGee, vice president of public policy for the Business Council of Fairfield County, who Finch named this month to a city economic development committee.
“When Stamford started to develop, you know what the word on Stamford was? Ugliest city in America,” McKee said, contrasting those sentiments against the city”™s modernized offices today. “Bridgeport”™s got to be prepared; it”™s got to be ready, just like Norwalk spent years getting ready.”
McGee did not attend the forum, but said he would incorporate Bridgeport”™s needs into remarks he plans to make at a Jan. 22 DECD forum in Stamford.
In his address, Timpanelli urged McDonald not to ignore existing planning efforts under way, including efforts to establish a “comprehensive economic development strategy” (CEDS) for the area stretching from Stratford to Greenwich. Bridgeport completed the CEDS planning process last summer.
Along with several others, Timpanelli argued for increased investment in workforce training.
Many of Bridgeport”™s key organizations did not take the opportunity to voice their thoughts directly, including People”™ United Financial Inc. and Bridgeport Hospital, two of the city”™s largest employers; and the Workplace Inc., a regional workforce investment board located downtown.
Susan Davis, CEO of St. Vincent”™s Medical Center, was the lone head of a large company or institution to testify. Besides BRBC, Connecticut Venture Group and GrowJobsCT, no other employer or professional association sent a representative.
Representing both Kensington-based GrowJobsCT and the International Association of Machinists union, John Harrity urged the state not to let its eroding manufacturing base grind to dust.
“Its decline is not a foregone conclusion or an act of God,” Harrity said. “There are policies we can undertake.”
Echoing concerns of several other speakers of the state”™s dwindling population of people between the ages of 25 and 34, Harrity urged the state to consider tuition reimbursements for graduates of state schools who commit to staying in Connecticut for an extended period.
