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Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Hartford Business Journal P.O Box 330 Congers, NY 10920-9894 A office complex and 155 Founders Plaza, a 50,000-square-foot office building, according to Fremont. The company describes the sale as the largest suburban office transaction in central Connecticut since 2012. With the deal, West Hartford- based Fremont yields its status as one of the largest landlords in East Hartford. The company will continue to manage the buildings and there will be no changes in operation, said Jonathan Keller, a founding partner with Fremont. CT adds 1,700 jobs in June Job growth held steady in Connecticut during the month of June as the state added 1,700 jobs, according to the state Department of Labor. Connecticut's unemployment rate shrunk from 4.2% to 4%, the labor department said. The private sector led the way with a gain of 900 new jobs, while the government sector added a net 800 jobs. Labor officials also said they revised May's job gains upward, from 1,600 new positions created to 2,400. Despite the growth, Connecticut still has only recovered 83.4% of the 289,400 jobs lost during March and April 2020, when the pandemic temporarily shut down significant parts of the state's economy. The private sector is 86.9% recovered from the April 2020 COVID employment trough. CT budget surplus shatters $4B mark An economy on the brink of recession and 9% inflation weren't enough to stop state government's surplus from shattering the $4 billion mark, Gov. Ned Lamont's budget office recently reported. The $4.3 billion surplus for the fiscal year that closed June 30 is unprecedented in state history, equals one-fifth of the last budget's entire General Fund, and is 30% larger than the maximum budget reserve allowed by state law. That means about $4.1 billion out of this past year's $4.3 billion surplus will be used to pay down the state's massive debt in its pension programs for state employees and municipal teachers. The remaining $200 million will go into the rainy day fund — elevating it from $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion, which equals 15% of the General Fund for the new fiscal year. Keith M. Phaneuf | CT Mirror Curaleaf proposes cannabis dispensary at former Manchester Friendly's Manchester has received an application from a national, multistate cannabis operator to open a dispensary at the former Friendly's restaurant on Buckland Street. The Planning and Economic Development Department received an application from Curaleaf on July 5 for a 4,322-square-foot retail marijuana dispensary in the former eatery at 240 Buckland St. The cannabis company is asking the town's Planning and Zoning Commission to approve a special exception to allow a hybrid recreational/medical cannabis dispensary at the 1.05-acre site, which is in a general business zone. Staff are reviewing the application before it heads to the Planning and Zoning Commission for consideration. Barnes Aerospace to expand East Granby repair facility Barnes Aerospace announced that it will expand its maintenance and repair facility in East Granby. Barnes Aerospace, a business unit of Bristol-based Barnes Group Inc., said the facility specializes in engine component repair and is certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, European Aviation Safety Agency and Civil Aviation Administration of China. The expanded facility will span 68,000 square feet and include a new chemical processing line, which will reduce the amount of chemical waste generated in the repair process, the company said. CNBC ranks CT 39th best state for business Connecticut was ranked the 39th most competitive state in CNBC's America's Top States for Business report, dropping 15 places from last year. CNBC scored all 50 states on 88 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. Each category was weighted based on how frequently states used them as a selling point in economic development marketing materials. The top state overall was North Carolina, which ranked first in terms of its economy and fifth in technology and innovation. Washington ranked second overall, followed by Virginia, Colorado and Texas. Connecticut finished with a 14th- place ranking for its economy and won 17th place in the health, life and inclusion category. It lagged behind in terms of its cost of business (45th) and economy (47th). The Nutmeg State beat New Jersey (42nd) and Maine (43rd) but lost to Massachusetts (24th) and New York (36th). LAST CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! This annual awards program recognizes top executives who have stood out for their commitment to excellence and have made significant contributions to their companies over the last year. Submit a nomination for a deserving individual that you know and have their career achievements and contributions recognized! NOMINATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 5, 2022 For more information visit: HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS/C-SUITE-AWARDS-2022 Sponsored by