Hartford Business Journal

6 Hartford Business Journal • May 20, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Briefs Biz lobby, health insurers push back against public option A coalition including Connecticut's largest business lobby and a health insurance trade group have launched a campaign to curtail efforts in the state to create a government- run health insurance option. The initiative, known as "Insurance Matters to Connecticut," serves as an advocacy arm for health insurers and businesses opposed to public-option health plans proposed in the legislature, which they say could threaten healthcare jobs, "destabilize" the private insurance market and create lofty startup costs. The coalition debuts as several proposed bills look to establish a government-operated insurance model in Connecticut. One proposal would establish a public health insurance option for businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer employees next year. Proponents say the program would provide a lower-cost health insurance option to small businesses and individuals by allowing them to tap the state's health plan. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association and Connecticut Association of Health Plans oppose that measure and others like it. Krohn adding 20 downtown apartments in N. Britain Downtown New Britain will add 20 more apartments through landlord Avner Krohn's planned makeover of one of his center-city properties. Mayor Erin Stewart said Krohn's Jasko Development will remodel the historic Andrews Building, 132 Main St., where four commercial floors will be converted to 20, one-bedroom apartments, sized 500 square feet to 700 square feet. Krohn said the project, to be completed in the first quarter of 2020 for an unspecified investment, includes space in the basement and first floor for two to three bars/restaurants. Counting living units being added in the first phase of the Columbus Commons development later this year, downtown New Britain is adding more than 100 new housing units downtown. Mohegan, Foxwoods' April slot revenues down 12% Slot revenues at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino continued to plummet in April, falling about 12 percent at both tribally operated casinos. For the month, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment (MGE) posted slot revenues of $45.2 million, down about 12 percent from the $51.3 million in the year-ago period. Foxwoods said its slot revenues declined in April to $36.2 million, down 12.1 percent compared to $41.2 million a year earlier. Slot revenues have decreased at both Mohegan and Foxwoods for 10 consecutive months since Aug. 2018, when MGM Resorts International opened its new Springfield casino across state lines. ESPN bets on gambling content Bristol-based ESPN announced it is partnering with Caesars Entertainment to build a new ESPN-branded studio at its LINQ Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The studio will launch next year and it will serve as a "hub" for sports betting- related content across ESPN's TV, digital and social platforms, while providing coverage for the growing number of sports events that take place in Las Vegas. In the new partnership, Caesars will also be ESPN's official sports-odds data supplier. The network has already created multiple shows related to gambling including "Daily Wager" on ESPN News. It also has segments and discussions about sports betting in some of its flagship series like SportsCenter and Outside the Lines. — CNNMoney New Indian-American restaurant lands in downtown Hartford A new Indian-American restaurant has opened in a two-floor space formerly occupied by the Life Ultra nightclub on Asylum Street in downtown Hartford. Manager Sanjith Reddy said the 136-seat restaurant — Spice Venue — will offer a wide variety of Indian and American-style dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The eatery, staffed by about a dozen people, will feature a sports bar and a private event room on the second floor overlooking Asylum Street, with nine TVs and projector screens flanking the 6,000-square-foot space. Week in Review TOP STORY Report: CT 21st best state in U.S. C onnecticut continues to climb the list of top states in the country, according to a new report by U.S. News & World Report. The 2019 Best States Ranking released May 14, which took into account more than 70 metrics related to health care, education, the economy, infrastructure, fiscal stability and public safety, said Connecticut moved up three spots to No. 21 in the U.S., ranking fourth among New England states behind New Hampshire (No. 2), Vermont (No. 5) and Massachusetts (No. 8). Nationally, Washington ranked as the nation's best state with the top five rounded out by Minnesota (No. 3) and Utah (No 4.). Connecticut ranked highly in the areas of healthcare access and quality (No. 3), the environment (No. 6), criminal justice including public safety (No. 7) and education (No. 12). The state's economy also jumped from No. 43 last year to No. 30. Still, those high rankings were offset by several issues plaguing the state, including infrastructure and fiscal stability, which both ranked No. 46 in the U.S. BY THE NUMBERS 4 The number of interim CEOs recently named to oversee four of Connecticut's community colleges, including Tunxis in Farmington and Asnuntuck in Enfield. 134 The number of lawmakers in the state House of Representatives who ap- proved a bill that requires Connecticut to solicit as much as 2,000 mega- watts of wind power by 2030. 2,440 The number of workers fast-food giant McDonald's says it will hire in Connecticut to prepare for the busy summer season. 80% The percentage of the U.S. population that will live in the South or West by 2060, according to UConn business professor John Glascock. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. Report: CT 21st best state in U.S.; top in corporate density • 2. Hartford set to host first international space trade summit • 3. ESPN and sports media are betting on gambling content • 4. CT companies brace for new fallout from U.S.-China trade war • 5. Krohn adding 20 downtown apts. in N. Britain 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 PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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