The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development holds its final “Reinventing Connecticut” workshops this month, including Jan. 12 in Danbury at Matrix Corporate Center.
The sessions come as DECD and other agencies in Gov. Dannel P. Malloy”™s administration gear up for the legislative session that convenes Feb. 8, following last fall”™s jobs session that resulted in several new incentives.
“There were exactly two votes against this bill,” said DECD Commissioner Catherine Smith, speaking at a Central Connecticut State University forum in November. “We”™ve got a path forward for really growing our economy.”
The workshops are designed to give small businesses a firsthand look at how the state can help them create jobs and expand their operations, highlighting incentives passed this past fall and allowing businesspeople to fill out applications on the spot for various programs.
DECD is asking attendees to register in advance and to call (800) 392-2122 for more information.
At a dozen sessions in November and December, about 800 people attended statewide, with nearly 150 applying for assistance under Connecticut”™s new, $100 million Small Business Express program. Those numbers do not include attendees at a seminar scheduled for Jan. 5 at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport after press deadline, and in Meriden Jan. 9.
DECD will also hold online workshops Jan. 18 at 9 a.m. and Jan. 19 at 1 p.m.
“The economy is not picking back up as quickly as we hoped, but I think some of the things we are doing here in Connecticut should give us a leg up relative to other states,” Smith said.
“Recognizing the government is not in the business of creating jobs ”“ we are in the business of creating an ecosystem in which business can create jobs. We can”™t stimulate demand for our small businesses, but we can certainly give them options so that if they are on the edge, (they”™re) just about to hire that next person; just about to buy that next piece of equipment, this bill will give them a little impetus so that they can do so.”
In addition to Small Business Express, other new programs under Malloy”™s jobs bill include:
Ӣ a Job Expansion Tax Credit (JET) program, providing a tax credit of up to $500 per month for each new employee or $900 per month for employees who are disabled, unemployed or veterans;
Ӣ an expanded First Five initiative for companies adding at least 200 jobs;
Ӣ potential development zones for smaller Connecticut airports, with businesses within those zones eligible for property tax exemptions and business tax credits;
Ӣ an expanded Manufacturing Reinvestment Account program to help small manufacturers invest in their operations;
Ӣ the Subsidized Training & Employment Program (STEP), which provides funding to small businesses and small manufacturers for training and other worker costs and
Ӣ an additional $340 million in bond financing available under the stateӪs Manufacturing Assistance Act.
