Hartford Business Journal

3 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JANUARY 17, 2022 BIZ BRIEFS LAND ROVER | HARTFORD, CT VALENTI FIAT | HARTFORD, CT LIBERTY MAZDA | HARTFORD, CT VALENTI JAGUAR | HARTFORD, CT Driven By Your Success R e t a i l • I n d u s t r i a l • C o m m e r c i a l • I n s t i t u t i o n a l • E d u c a t i o n • H e a l t h c a r e • R e l i g i o u s Auto dealership construction is a specialty of ours. Over the years, PDS has had the great privilege of working closely and often with some of the area's most respected names. Having built over a dozen dealerships in our history, we work to build lasting relationships based on trust and communication. With in-house disciplines of engineering from civil to mechanical, PDS can design the right building to fit your budget and timeline. THINK • PLAN • BUILD 860.242.8586 | pdsec.com agreement with the Connecticut Lottery Corp. to open the facility. The Lottery was appointed by the state legislature to operate online and retail sports betting sites in Connecticut. Spectra Venue Management, the current operator of the XL Center, would run the sportsbook's restaurant and bar. The facility would be located along Ann Uccello Street and work off XL Center's entrance at Church and Ann Uccello streets, connecting to the arena bowl and allowing for expansion of the concourse on the west side of the building, according to Michael Freimuth, executive director of the Capital Region Development Authority. There will also be an outdoor patio area, Freimuth said. The facility would require a $4 million investment and have sports wagering kiosks and counters and a sea of TVs and boards displaying live sporting events and betting odds. The hope is that the facility will be built out and ready to debut in September, but that will hinge on negotiations with the Lottery. Large events going remote, canceling as COVID-19 cases clime The ongoing resurgence of COVID-19 is hammering Connecticut's events industry, as more large gatherings and conferences are canceled or going remote. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association announced that it is moving its 2022 Economic Summit + Outlook conference online, due to the recent increase in COVID positivity rates. The event, which is taking place Jan. 21, was supposed to be held in-person at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, on Columbus Boulevard. The Connecticut Marine Trades Association announced it has canceled this year's Hartford Boat Show that was to be held Jan. 20-23, at Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville. Similarly, the latest coronavirus wave has forced Connecticut colleges and universities — including the UConn men's and women's basketball teams — to call off numerous sporting events. Citing COVID concerns, The Hartford pushes back return to offices Property and casualty insurer The Hartford is again delaying its planned return to the office for employees, citing the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases and the rapid spread of the omicron variant. "Due to spikes in COVID-19 infections across the country and the increased transmissibility of the omicron variant, we are delaying the Jan. 18 return-to-office date of many employees to our offices and will reassess the situation in February," said Matthew Sturdevant, a spokesman for The Hartford. "Employee health and safety continues to guide our decisions as we work through this dynamic situation." The insurer last month scrapped plans to have senior leaders return to their offices by Dec. 6, ahead of most other workers. At the time, omicron had just begun to spread internationally, and company officials said they would wait on further information from medical experts to better understand the new virus strain and the risk it might pose. Plans to bring most workers back to their offices by Jan. 18, however, remained in place. The Hartford now plans to further assess the situation next month. Corporate donors back Hartford's 'Open Streets' program in '22 Bloomfield insurer Cigna Corp. has agreed to provide the city of Hartford a $50,000 donation to support the upcoming "Open Streets" program. According to documents included in the council's Jan. 10 meeting agenda, the Open Streets initiative would clear select roads of vehicle traffic for up to six hours one Sunday per month, allowing residents and visitors to gather, walk, exercise or bike in the area, with the ultimate aim of promoting community health and stimulating business sales. City officials expect the program to run from May to October. The city has committed $200,000 to the project and accepted donations of $200,000 from Hartford HealthCare and $4,500 from AARP. Cigna's $50,000 contribution would move Hartford closer to meeting the final cost of the program, estimated at between $600,000 and $700,000 Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney's financial institutions group joins Updike, Kelly & Spellacy A legal practice group focused on financial institutions is changing hands between two Hartford-based law firms. Updike, Kelly & Spellacy officials said their firm will absorb Cranmore, Fitzgerald & Meaney's financial institutions practice group, an arrangement that includes the division's attorneys and staff. Deal terms were not disclosed. CFM's financial institutions group provides legal services and advice to banks, mutual institutions, bank holding companies and other financial clients throughout the Northeast.

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