www.HartfordBusiness.com • April 6, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 3
Rocky Hill officials hope pandemic
doesn't stunt economic development
momentum
By Matt Pilon
mpilon@hartfordbusiness.com
R
ocky Hill officials have worked
hard to expand their town's
commercial tax base, and have
been rewarded over the past few
years with several hundred thousand
square feet of new manufacturing
and medical facilities, as well as sev-
eral dozen new businesses.
Now, economic development of-
ficials and real estate deal-makers,
like those in virtually every com-
munity across Connecticut, are
wondering what the future holds, as
the state's COVID-19 infected count
continues to climb, forcing brick-
and-mortar business closures and
skittishness among some investors.
"Retailers are having a little trouble,"
said Raymond Carpentino, the town's
economic development director. "I
don't know what's going to happen
there. I think we have to cross our
fingers right now."
It goes without saying that the
coronavirus is an unwelcome event
for Rocky Hill and many other munici-
palities. Town halls have shuttered,
public meetings have canceled, prop-
erty tax appeals are delayed indefi-
nitely, and officials and families have
scrambled to deal with the sudden
and likely early end of the school year.
However, Carpentino said the
pandemic's timing hasn't delayed or
canceled any major building proj-
ects in Rocky Hill, including planned
construction of a medical office
Continued on page 4 >>
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Rocky Hill
Economic
Development
Director Raymond
Carpentino said
the coronavirus
hasn't delayed any
projects in town
yet, but the outlook
remains uncertain.