(860) 527-1044

Friday Facts – July 19th

by | Jul 19, 2024 | friday_facts

Retail Partner Needed for CT Store at Big E in September
CRN Big Fall event next on our calendar
News and notes from the State Capitol
News and notes from around the state

  • The Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing & Tourism is looking for a retail partner to operate the inaugural Connecticut Store in the Connecticut Building at the Big E in West Springfield, MA. The expected number of visitors to the building is between 1M and 1.5M.
  • The State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) is willing to structure sales of state branded merch (Hats, T-Shirts, Stickers, Posters, etc.) in a way that makes the venture profitable for the operating partner. Hours are 10 AM – 9 PM from Sept 13th – 29th. The look and feel of the store is also to be done collaboratively with the partner.
  • If this may be of interest to you and your business, contact Anthony M. Anthony, Connecticut’s Chief Marketing Officer, at 860-969-7857 or anthony.anthony@ct.gov.

 

CRN Big Fall event is next on our calendar

  • As we are nearing the end of July and moving to the dog days of summer, we want to remind you once again that our BIG Fall event will be the Place to Be for all retailers in CT. 
  • Our committee is meeting again next week to continue our planning for the event, and we want you to make sure that you attend this year’s event. 
  • Mark your calendar today for Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford for this year’s event. You won’t want to miss it! 
  • We will keep you posted on the details throughout August, but there is no question that this event is the BIG event and will be the Place to Be for Connecticut retailers.

 

News and notes from the State Capitol

  • Connecticut added 3,300 new jobs in the month of June, leading to the largest decline in the state’s unemployment rate in nearly four years. CTNewsJunkie has the numbers here.
  • Despite being in Germany on an economic development trip Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he was creating a new office of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for the purpose of furthering equity in opportunities in Connecticut. Details reported here by CTNewsJunkie. 
  • 17 towns and cities across the state received state grants totaling $12 million for various transportation infrastructure projects, Gov. Lamont and Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto announced this week. The details reported here by Hartford Business Journal.
  • Leaders of Connecticut’s state government announced Wednesday they have struck a deal with state employee unions to overhaul the state’s disability pension system for the first time in decades. CT Insider reports that news here. 
  • A $250,000 grant from one of Connecticut’s quasi-public agencies will expand family-based childcare into the eastern part of the state, officials said Wednesday. Details of the grant, and the organizations that will benefit, reported here by CTNewsJunkie.

 

News and notes from around the state

  • Police in several Connecticut towns are investigating a type of veiled thievery that has surged across the nation. Electronic skimming devices used to filch credit and debit card information were planted on self cash-out stations at a number of supermarkets. Details reported by CT Post here. 
  • Connecticut Republicans may have been listening for a reference to Connecticut as J.D. Vance delivered his first speech to the party’s national convention on Wednesday night. And they did, very briefly. Details reported in the New Haven Register here. 
  • A federally funded job services agency celebrated the grand opening Wednesday of new offices in New Haven that leaders say will increase access for individuals both new and returning to the workforce. Details here from CT Mirror.
  • Bradley International Airport Friday morning is reporting roughly 20 departure delays while the world contends with a major Microsoft and Crowdstrike outage. The update from WTNH News8 here. 
  • Submarine maker Electric Boat hired about 2,500 new employees in the first half of 2024, almost half of its goal of about 5,200 hires for the year. The news comes as the Groton-based company expands its recruitment initiative to the Hartford area. Hartford Business Journal has the details here.
  • The personal finance website WalletHub.com released a list of the states where people have been struggling to make ends meet the most. Connecticut was not among them, as WFSB reports here.