CRMA to name Rep. Kerry Wood 2021 Legislator of the Year
Register for next Live Broadcast. Listen to previous Live Broadcasts
Legislative news and notes. News and notes from around the Capitol
- CRMA is proud to announce today that we will be naming Rep. Kerry Wood (D-Rocky Hill) as our 2021 Legislator of the Year.
- Wood is a rising star in the Democratic House Majority Caucus and has been a great supporter of the retail industry here in CT.
- In addition to being the House Chair of the Insurance Committee, where she led the opposition to a state run health care system, Rep. Wood also serves on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee. In that role, she has always been available to listen to our concerns on issues before the Committee.
- In general, during the entire “virtual” session that took place, when many Legislators were challenging to reach, Rep. Wood was an exception. She was extraordinarily available to us and supportive of issues that matter to retailers.
- We will be presenting this award to Rep. Wood during our upcoming final Live Broadcast of the year, on November 10.
Register today for our next Live Broadcast
- As we mentioned above, our next Live! Broadcast will take place on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.
- We have made slight change to the time of this virtual event, moving it from midday to morning. It will now be held from 9:00am to 10:00am.
- We really hope you will join us for this event. You can do that by registering here.
- Also, this is our last fundraiser of the year, so any support you can give us, please considering doing so.
- Here is the link to the various sponsor levels.
Listen to previous Live Broadcasts
- As we mentioned, our next Live Broadcast will be our third and final one for the year.
- We believe these events have provided members with some very valuable information, but we understand that all of you might not have had time to listen to them Live.
- While that is part of the reason why we moved out time for our next Live! (it will run from 9:00 to 10:00am) you can always listen to the previous broadcasts on demand by going to our website.
- The first one – which you can listen to by going here – was with DECD Commissioner David Lehman and a roundtable discussion with retailers talking about the current state of the COVID 19 virus and a look ahead to the holiday season.
- The second Live! included two very important special guests from the NRF to give us up-to-date real time information about supply chain and mandated vaccines and testing of employee’s. You can view it here.
- Please take some time out of you day and listen to these presentations. We think they will be worth your time.
- And don’t forget to sign up today for our next Live! on November 10th.
Legislative news and notes
- The panel of state legislators meeting to redraw Connecticut’s legislative and congressional district lines has once again chosen a former state senator and state auditor to be its ninth, tie-breaking member. Kevin Johnston of Pomfret, who had the same role during the 2011 redistricting process, was chosen unanimously. The members said they hope to meet their Nov. 30 deadline. The Hartford Courant reports on the latest, here.
- Legislative branch employees will need to comply with Gov. Ned Lamont’s order requiring vaccination against the COVID-19 virus or weekly testing by Nov. 1. CTNewsJunkie has the deadline details here.
- State Rep. Michael DiMassa, accused of stealing more than $600,000 in federal COVID-19 relief money by billing the city of West Haven for pandemic related consulting services that federal officials said he never performed, is expected to resign his seat in the legislature, the Hartford Courant reports here.
News and notes from around the state
- Connecticut added an estimated 4,700 jobs in September, the ninth consecutive month of job growth as the state’s recovery from the lockdowns of early 2020 continues. Hartford Business Journal has the details here.
- Regulators in Connecticut and New York have approved the merger between Buffalo-based M&T Bank and People United Bank, which is headquartered in Bridgeport. The Connecticut Post has the story here.
- Avelo Airlines will offer nonstop flights to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport from Tweed New Haven Airport three days a week starting on Jan. 13, making the city its sixth destination to Florida. Flights to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa start on Nov. 3, while flights to Palm Beach start on Dec. 16. New Haven BIZ reports the latest here.
- Christmas might be two months away, but consumers who are alarmed by news of supply chain disruptions have already started planning their holiday shopping. According to a new consumer research study published by Oracle, 52% of Americans have either started holiday shopping or plan to shop earlier than usual. Fairfield County Business Journal has the data, here.
- The state has launched a pair of competitive grant programs that promise to create jobs and promote new public-private partnerships to accelerate economic growth. The Innovation Corridor program and the Connecticut Communities Challenge program, will be administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Fairfield County Business Journal has the details here.