Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1409819
Unique value Hartford and Connecticut are not the lowest-cost places to do business. But civic and business leaders embrace the challenge of delivering instead on advances in precision and productivity. "We're competing on a very unique value proposition here," said DiPentima, who worked previ- ously for his family manufacturing business, Pegasus. Aer Pegasus was purchased in 2016 by Legge & Pla, DiPentima was president of the aerospace division. Still, state and local leaders are not insensitive to costs. They have worked to reduce the tax burden in Connecticut. The state jumped this year to No. 24, up from No. 35 in 2019, on CNBC's list of top states for business. Another draw is the clustering of related businesses. It gives rise to a network of service compa- nies in marketing, accounting, information technology and other disciplines with expertise in a given sector. "The whole ecosystem is what people want to come here for," said David Griggs, president and CEO of MetroHartford Alliance. He cited a British insurance com- pany that had been looking at New York and Boston but decided on Hartford aer an unplanned stop in the city. "They didn't even bother to go to Boston," he said. Newer industries also are finding a home in Connecticut. The utility Eversource, which has dual headquarters in Hartford and Boston, is partnering with Danish firm Ørsted on offshore wind projects that rely on a New London pier as a staging area. "It's going to be a major con- struction hub for us," said Mike Ausere, vice president of business development for Eversource. Once the turbines are in place off the Atlantic coast, they will have spinoff benefits for all businesses. Wind projects will reduce reliance on natural gas, which spikes in cost during winter demand peaks. And they will help companies as they set targets for greater use of renewable energy. "Every major corporation is beginning to adopt clean-energy goals," said Ausere, a Texas native who moved to Connecticut with his wife and family in 2009. Ausere had never visited Connecticut before a job interview in late September that year. He came away impressed by the seasonable temperatures and vibrant fall colors. "I had never seen such a beau- tiful place in my life," said Ausere, who continues to appreciate Connecticut's four seasons, as well as its leadership on energy policy. "Early on, Connecticut saw the opportunity for offshore wind to deliver both clean energy into the state and also to deliver economic development and growth," he said. Melinda Rizzo contributed report- ing to this story. 139 STATE PARKS AND FORESTS IN CONNECTICUT Here is a look at what you will find there: • State park land: 34,314 acres • State forest land: 170,636 acres • Rivers and streams in Connecticut: 9,700 miles • Hiking trail mileages: 825 miles Source: Connecticut Office of Tourism STEVE LASCHEVER PHOTOGRAPHY TALCOTT MOUNTAIN STATE PARK is a great place for a hike. 10 HBJ HARTFORD LIVE WORK PLAY