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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 9 YOUR EDUCATION YOUR WAY IN-PERSON | ONLINE | HYBRID S P R I N G S E M E S T E R S T A R T S J A N . 2 1 ENROLL IN A DAY JAN 8 & 22 HCC & GCC: 9am - 1pm NCC: 10am - 2pm scan for more info companies. "e decision the board made was to move into urban centers and to be close to innovators," McCooe said. "We also have the Hartford and Stam- ford locations, so we are distributed across the state. New Haven is our headquarters because it is more cen- trally located and easy to get to other parts of the state." Growth opportunities AdvanceCT, which works closely with the state Department of Eco- nomic and Community Development (DECD), has several focus areas: business retention and expansion, attracting businesses to relocate to the state, marketing Connecticut, and partnering on statewide economic de- velopment projects. AdvanceCT also helps connect businesses to resources to help them navigate any difficulties they are encountering. e team has partnered with Gov. Ned Lamont, DECD and others to score key economic development wins, Denious said. Recent success stories include the September announcement that kitch- en products maker GE Appliances plans to open a location in Stamford that will serve as a mini-factory, mak- erspace and showroom. Another recent win involved HCL Technologies, a global IT business that has a new Hartford location that will create 200-plus jobs. "at was a many months project with many of our stakeholders and partners, to make that work," Denious said, noting that AdvanceCT's board includes top business leaders who are on the frontlines of recruitment efforts. In December, Milford-based Aquinas Consulting, which helps companies with their staffing needs, announced it was expanding its work- force in the state with at least 30 new workers. Denious said he sees more oppor- tunities for growth in the New Haven and southern Connecticut areas. AdvanceCT will continue to focus on the life sciences area, which New Haven is becoming known for. e organization plans to work closely with Yale University and other institutions and stakeholders, such as e Jackson Laboratory in Farming- ton, and BioCT, which has locations at District and in Groton. "We are really trying to build that ecosystem within Connecticut, by really supporting company creation," Denious said. "Yale has been fabulous in this regard, spinning out more than a dozen companies in recent years, and this is obviously leading to all kinds of jobs and investment. We very much want to support that." Other life sciences hubs, such as in Boston, have space shortages, and AdvanceCT is marketing Connecticut as an attractive location that offers space at a lower cost and is "full of incredible talent, and anchored by a world-class academic institution," Denious said. Connecticut has experienced pop- ulation growth, partly due to the pan- demic, and had recent fiscal surpluses, both factors that Denious said make the state more competitive. Recently announced state initiatives are also helping to make the state more attractive, according to Denious. In October, Lamont announced the launch of two new competitive grant programs aimed at creating jobs, boosting municipalities and promot- ing new public-private partnerships to accelerate economic growth. Under the Innovation Corridor program, DECD is picking two or more proposals for major urban areas or regional economic centers. e department expects to grant up to $100 million in total over five years. Under the Connecticut Communi- ties Challenge program, DECD will fund projects that improve livability, vibrancy, and appeal of communities, with half of the funds geared toward distressed municipalities. "We have to take advantage of the wind being at our back for once in Connecticut," Denious said. "I don't want to ring the bell and call it a victory lap. ere is enormous work to do." n These top business and civic leaders sit on AdvanceCT's board • Greg Butler, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Eversource • Ravi Kumar S., President, Infosys • Jim Loree, President & CEO, Stanley Black & Decker • Judy Marks, President & CEO, Otis Worldwide Corp. • Deepak Mishra, President Americas Region, Philip Morris International • Indra Nooyi, former CEO, PepsiCo • R. Adam Norwitt, President & CEO, Amphenol Corp. • Judy Olian, President, Quinnipiac University • Franklyn Reynolds, President & CEO, UIL Holdings • Thomas Rutledge, Chairman & CEO, Charter Communications • Kathleen Silard, President & CEO, Stamford Health • James Smith, former Chairman, Webster Bank • Jay Williams, President, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving

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