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Friday Facts – June 25th

by | Jun 25, 2021 | friday_facts

Last call for CRMA’s golf outing
Big week for the state
State Capitol news and notes
Retailer of the Year nominations
News and notes from around the state

  • CRMA has two big fundraisers each year to help the Association remain a strong advocate for the retail industry.
  • One of the those, our annual golf outing will be held next Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at Wampanoag CC in West Hartford, CT. (wampanoagcc.com)
  • If you have not yet had a chance to register, or purchase a tee sign, or donate a raffle prize, you still have time – but not a lot, as we are putting the finishing touches on this year’s event.
  • To all of you who have already registered or supported the event in other ways, we thank you for all your help and support of CRMA. It means a great deal to us, and we look forward to seeing everyone on the course and in the clubhouse on Tuesday.

 

Big week for the state

  • The State of CT had a very strong week in terms of economic development.
  • We knew that throughout the pandemic many folks from out-of-state – particularly NYC – were moving into the state, which was driving up home prices all across the state.
  • But this week it was more than people, it was businesses that announced they’re moving into the state.
  • The week began with Phillip Morris International announcing they would be moving their HQ from NYC to Fairfield County by next summer, bringing around 200 high paying jobs with them. According to the Wall Street Journal, the move will make Connecticut home to 15 members of the Fortune 500.
  • Yesterday, the global financial technology firm iCapital Network announced they were moving out of NYC and into Greenwich, bringing 200 jobs with them.
  • And just today ITT, Inc announced that they too would be leaving White Plains and setting up shop in Stamford, bringing 57 jobs to the area.
  • Overall the numbers may not be huge, but for CT to have companies decided they want to move HERE instead of moving OUT is good news.

 

Capitol news and notes

  • The CT legislative world was rocked a little this week, when State Sen. Alex Kasser, (D- Greenwich) announced that she was resigning her office due to the ongoing stress of a divorce from her husband.
  • Kasser represents the 36th District, which had been historically a Republican stronghold, so it was shocking when she won in an upset in 2018 vs. Republican L. Scott Frantz. Kasser just won re-election in the fall of 2020 and solidified the D’s 24 -12 advantage in the State Senate.
  • You can go here to read for yourself the resignation letter that Kasser penned, which even caught Sen. President Martin Looney off guard. CT Mirror has the story here.
  • While no date for a special election has been set, it will be the first test for the new Republican State Party Chair, Ben Proto, who was elected by the Republican State Central Committee earlier this week as its new leader. CT Mirror has the story of his election here.
  • Courant opinion columnist Kevin Rennie has comments on the Proto victory and the Kasser resignation, here.
  • Also, this week, long-time Democratic Secretary of the State Denise Merrill announced that she WILL NOT SEEK re-election for a fourth term when her current term expires in 2022.
  • This announcement will no doubt have lots of folks in the Democratic party interested in running for that seat, which could have a ripple effect throughout the party.
  • The Hartford Courant takes a look at the Merrill announcement and it’s potential impact, here.

 

Retailer of the Year nominations

  • As we mentioned in last week’s FF, we are accepting nominations from folks for our Retailer of the Year that will be presented at our Annual Awards Luncheon on October 13.
  • If you would like to nominate a retailer – even your store – you can go here to learn more.
  • CRMA Board members will review the nominations and schedule visits with the nominees before making final decisions.
  • The CRMA Retailer of the Year is the highest honor that CRMA bestows upon a retailer. So, we encourage you to think about where you like to shop and why they are such a great retailer – or why you feel your store is worthy of consideration, and send us in that information.
  • We know there are thousands of great retailers throughout the state and this our chance to shine a spotlight on them and to celebrate the retail industry.

 

News and notes from around the state

  • Congratulations to great Connecticut journalists – names you’ll recognize from stories featured in FF – the great Ken Dixon, longtime Capitol reporter for Hearst CT Media, and CT Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas and Keith Phaneuf, on recently being named among the award winners recognized for their work by the Connecticut chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
  • Connecticut’s newly approved marijuana bill also restricts where people can smoke tobacco. The Courant has the details here.
  • The Connecticut Hospital Association has adopted a consensus, statewide policy endorsing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for hospital and health system employees and clinical staff. Hartford Business Journal reports the story here.
  • Governor Lamont has launched a “Rock the Shot” promotional campaign to encourage Connecticut residents to get vaccinated by giving away pairs of tickets to concerts happening throughout the summer and fall in the state. Details on the effort can be seen here.