Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • September 3, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 5 Oz Griebel qualifies for gubernatorial ballot Oz Griebel, the former CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance who is running for governor, has qualified for the November ballot, the Secretary of the State's Office said. He joins Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Bob Stefanowski. Griebel, 69, a business leader who finished third in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2010, will meet Lamont on Sept. 5 in the first debate of the general-election, which will focus on the state's economy. Stefanowski has declined to participate, but he and Lamont are expected to meet in five other debates. The Secretary of the State's office said that the Griebel-Monte Frank ticket has submitted more than the 7,500 signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot as petitioning candidates. Griebel had sought the endorsement of the Independent Party, but the group instead cross-endorsed Stefanowski. CT Mirror Hartford's Lifeway Mobility taps private equity for expansion An Ohio-based private equity firm said it's made a major investment in a Hartford mobility and accessibility equipment provider. Rockwood Equity Partner and Lifeway Mobility, which sells wheelchairs, ramps, stairlifts and other products, did not disclose the size of the investment. In conjunction with the deal, however, Rockwood said Lifeway has acquired a majority stake in a Chicago-area accessibility equipment provider, Extended Home Living Services. It may not stop there, as Rockwood said it's seeking additional add-ons for its new portfolio company. Lifeway, which has its corporate offices and showroom on Weston Street in Hartford, also has a Danielson location, in addition to facilities in Massachusetts and Minnesota. The company was launched in 2015 by Paul Bergantino and Timothy Burfield, who more than 25 years ago co- founded a rehab company that, after a series of mergers, became Numotion in 2013. Incoming W. Hartford fintech has new name Pivoting into the digital era, West Hartford-bound fintech Seven Stars Cloud (SSC) announced it has adopted a new business name to reflect its technological prowess. The New York fintech said pending shareholder approval the company will operate as Ideanomics — an ode to its focus transitioning traditional assets into the "asset digitization era." "The combination of the 'idea' and the 'field of economics,' yields Ideanomics — a new paradigm and model for solving problems, creating efficiencies, and more equitably distributing wealth and knowledge," CEO and Chairman Bruno Wu said in a statement. Ideanomics, which plans to create a tech hub for blockchain technology and artificial intelligence at the former UConn campus located on Trout Brook Drive, said it will launch a website under its new name following shareholder approval. W. Hfd.'s ex-Westwood Apts. fetch $20.85M West Hartford's 200-unit former Westwood Apartments were sold to a new owner who paid $20.85 million, or about $104,000 per unit, for the property in the shadow of I-84, brokers say. New Jersey landlord CS Acquisition Group LLC bought the six-building property, now called Cove West Hartford Apartments, at 106 Kane St., from Westwood Apartments LLC, according to exclusive broker Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap. IPA said Westwood is West Hartford's biggest market-rate apartment community, based on number of units. Originally built in 1971 with 368 apartment units, the development in the mid-1980s was split into two parcels, with four of the buildings' units converted into condominiums. In July, CS Acquisitions announced its purchase of Simsbury's 168-unit Pointe at Dorset Crossing apartments for $36.5 million, or $217,000 per unit; and acquired Meriden's 106-unit Infinity Apartments for $6.9 million. Based in Lakewood, N.J., CS's portfolio includes a handful of other multifamily properties in Connecticut. PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. New England Air Museum | Windsor Locks, CT This project is a memorial museum hangar at Bradley International Airport. The museum houses restored B-29 Superfortress "Jack's Hack" air crafts. There is a 120 foot clear span pre-engineered building which is 30 feet high to accommodate the large tail section of the air craft. Also, a 90 foot wide hangar which allows easy access to the display. Total Project Size: 20,000 SF 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfi eld, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: A PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD Plan Your Next Meeting at Saybrook Point Inn This Could Be Your Office For The Day Let our professional Meeting Planners customize your next meeting or event. Experience what our unique meeting spaces can offer with team building opportunities and farm to table menus. Located only two hours from New York and Boston. Learn more at Saybrook.com. and Boston. Learn more at Saybrook.com. 2 Bridge Street, Old Saybrook, CT 06475|860.388.0000 Gubernatorial candidate Oz Griebel. PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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