Hartford Business Journal

4 Hartford Business Journal • July 9, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Briefs Access Health CT enrollment rose, along with premiums A new federal report shows that enrollment in Connecticut's Affordable Care Act marketplace increased this year, even as the cost of health insurance rose sharply. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, said 106,475 Connecticut individuals and families enrolled in a health insurance plan through Access Health CT this year. That's up from 92,697 in 2017. The average ACA health premium in Connecticut rose from $545.41 in 2017 to $689.26 this year, CMS said. But for 75 percent of Access Health CT enrollees, the federal government paid most of that premium, an average of $611.56. In 2017, the average subsidy was $438.99. By Ana Radelat | CT Mirror Hartford InsurTech Accelerator seeking applications Downtown Hartford's insurance technology promoter is asking tech startups to apply for its second annual accelerator program. Hartford InsurTech Hub, a key focus of Upward Hartford, announced it's seeking applications for startups looking to connect with several of the nation's biggest insurance companies. Applications are due Sept. 30. The 10 startups selected for the three- month accelerator program, which is run by London-based Startupbootcamp, must relocate to Hartford. Startups will collaborate with Startupbootcamp's broad network of insurance companies, investors and industry expert mentors. The program allows startups to deliver in three months the same results it would take them more than a year to achieve, organizers said. Trinity completes $2.6M sale of 200 Constitution Plaza Trinity College has completed its sale of 200 Constitution Plaza for $2.6 million, but the school will still maintain a downtown Hartford presence. Trinity finalized the sale with BHN Associates and LHR Group in April, just about four years after the school purchased the 135,000-square-foot building for $2 million. Trinity purchased 200 Constitution Plaza in 2014 hoping the property would serve as the school's downtown anchor location, but it quickly realized it bought more space than it needed and didn't want to become a landlord to other tenants. Instead, the school has leased a combined 21,000 square feet in 10 Constitution Plaza, which hosts Trinity's Liberal Arts Action Lab, a partnership with Capital Community College in which faculty and students conduct research and solve problems facing city residents. And by year-end, One Constitution Plaza will house Trinity's graduate studies and certificate programs. NY fintech to move HQs to W. Htfd; to bring 330 jobs New York global fintech Seven Stars Cloud Group says it will move its headquarters to the former UConn campus in West Hartford. Financial-technology company Seven Stars Cloud (SSC) announced it will create a tech hub for blockchain technology and artificial intelligence at the vacant campus located on Trout Brook Road. SSC says it will bring 330 jobs to the campus as it plans to invest more than $280 million in the development, dubbed Chain Valley. The state will provide a loan worth $10 million for renovations at the site. The loan may be forgiven if SSC meets its jobs target. As part of the project, which will include several phases, SSC will retrofit the campus' five existing buildings and construct new structures. Malloy taps Sheridan as CAA board chair Thomas A. Sheridan has been appointed chairman of the Connecticut Airport Authority's board of directors, the governor announced. Sheridan, the CEO and president of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, will succeed Charles R. Gray, whose term ended June 30, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said. The Waterford resident has led the Eastern Connecticut chamber since 2002, working to represent the local business community and improve the Week in Review TOP STORY Malloy hails New Britain data center as tech industry draw G ov. Dannel P. Malloy said that a proposed fuel-cell powered data center in New Britain that was recently selected for a long-term energy contract is "a major step in Connecticut leading the digital economy." Malloy joined developer EIP LLC, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, legislators and others July 2 to highlight the $1 billion Energy & Innovation Park, which the governor called "one of the most significant private-sector investments in recent state history" and "a new beginning for New Britain." The proposed data center, to be housed in redeveloped buildings on the historic Stanley Works manufacturing campus, will be powered by fuel cells manufactured by South Windsor-based Doosan. The approximately 20-megawatt fuel cell plant was recently selected by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to negotiate a 20-year power purchase contract with utilities. The project could ultimately include about 64 megawatts of on-site power, which would make it the world's largest fuel cell installation, Malloy said. EIP said in its application to DEEP earlier this year that the four-phase project would generate over 400 direct and indirect jobs in the initial phase, mainly during construction. Phase one, which includes the fuel cell plant construction slated to begin in 2019, would generate nearly $44 million in worker earnings, EIP said. The data center would be built during phase two, with additional on-site power, data capacity and new construction slated for the latter phases. In all, EIP says there would be nearly 20,000 direct and indirect jobs generated from the project. BY THE NUMBERS 3,094 The number of single-family homes sold in Connecticut in May, which was down 6.3 percent from the year-ago period, according to The Warren Group. 106,475 The number of individuals and fami- lies that enrolled in health insurance through Connecticut's Affordable Care Act insurance exchange this year, up nearly 15 percent from 2016. $1,296 The average weekly wage earned by Hartford County residents in 2017, up 2.6 percent from a year earlier, ac- cording to the U.S. Bureau of Labor. 10% The percentage of U.S. manufacturers that offer workers paid parental and family leave benefits, according to the federal Bureau of Labor statistics. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. Vineyard, winery development eyed in Suffield • 2. Lone bidder for XL Center • 3. Trinity completes $2.6M sale of 200 Constitution Plaza • 4. Malloy hails New Britain data center as tech industry draw • 5. Tax fraud nets Newington insurance salesman 70 months in prison STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe A rendering of the proposed fuel cell park and data center to be built on Stanley Works' former New Britain manufacturing grounds. RENDERING | CONTRIBUTED

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