Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • April 22, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 13 current building and fire codes. Officials say several small business owners are preparing loan applications for the "gap financing," which will be available over the next two years, or until the program reaches the $750,000 fund- ing cap. Loans will be repay- able over a decade. "People have to spend more money to occupy those older spaces, and the feed- back has been that it's not worth it to occupy them," said Gary Anderson, the town's director of planning and economic development. "The idea was to make it financially feasible for these transformative uses." Free business advice is also becoming more acces- sible to entrepreneurs in the state through the Connecti- cut Small Business Devel- opment Center (CTSBDC), which has advisors sta- tioned at 23 locations across Connecticut, including at the state's only town-owned, co-working space — "WORK_SPACE" — on Main Street in Manchester. East Hartford-based CTSBDC — which has a presence at UConn Storrs and Stamford, several town halls and collaborative-work spaces, and chambers of commerce — recently ex- panded its partnership with the town of West Hartford, opening a service center in town hall to help businesses access capital, or to support workforce development, marketing or other busi- ness-planning strategies. Kristen Gorski, West Hartford's economic de- velopment specialist, says CTSBDC's new presence creates a "one-stop shop" for local entrepreneurs in need of business advice and permits from the town's economic, building or planning departments. "The hope is to continue to grow the diversity and variety of [small] busi- nesses that we have," she said. "Similar to what these incubator spaces offer in Hartford, our hope is that startups can utilize these services to expand in West Hartford." FOCUS Quality Construction + Butler Manufacturing = Repeat Customers www.borghesibuilding.com © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. 2155 East Main Street • Torrington, Connecticut 06790 Stevens Manufacturing, Milford, CT | 1990 | 22,000 sq. ft. 1998 | Addition — 5,000 sq. ft. 2009 | Addition — 8,300 sq. ft. 2016 | Addition — 29,000 sq. ft. Contact us at 860-482-7613 or visit us on the web. >> Experts Corner continued is uncertain whether or not a new law applies to a specific member on staff, it is often best to assume it does. This approach can help to avoid costly mistakes in the future. Look for special circumstances The workforce is constantly adopt- ing new trends and lifestyle changes, causing legislative guidelines to adapt accordingly. For example, as workers become more mobile and change jobs more frequently, some paid-leave laws require employers to reinstate a returning employee's pre- viously accrued time off if he or she rejoins the company within a certain time period. This is merely an example of fine print that employers should be care- ful not to overlook, when and if Con- necticut passes sick-leave legislation. Consider making broader changes Businesses impacted by a new law may determine that it is easier to adapt their overall systems, rather than implementing new policies just to bridge the gap. For instance, if faced with a paid time off program, Connecticut companies may want to consider combining vacation and sick leave to stay compliant. This can also make it easier for employers to track one bank of time off for each worker instead of tracking two separate systems. Communicate clearly with employees New legislation can be confusing to both employers and staff. Employ- ees may feel uncertain about wage changes, time-off allowances or the future of their job at the company. To assuage these concerns, com- pany leaders should prioritize com- munication with their workers and be as open as possible about changes to company policy. Discussing how pro- posed changes may affect the day-to- day operations or processes within an organization can help avoid confusion while showing that management is prepared for the change. Whether small business owners in Connecticut like them or not, legislative changes are inevitable. By preparing for changes and planning for impacts to their organization, business owners can save both time and money while ensuring compli- ance with new legislation. Eric Cormier is a manager of HR services with Insperity, which provides outsourced human resources. Gary Anderson, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Town of Manchester Kristen Gorski, Economic Development Specialist, West Hartford RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! contact Donna Collins, Associate Publisher at 860-236-9998 ext. 121 Or dcollins@HartfordBusiness.com BE A PART OF DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT 2019! View the 2018 Digital Edition at www.DoingBusinessinCT.com Doing Business in Connecticut showcases Connecticut's many economic development opportunities, and the attributes that make Connecticut the place to work, live and play. The resource for all companies looking to expand in or relocate to Connecticut. ALL NEW EDITION! PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES: • Sponsorships • 2-Page Company Profi le • Advertising

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