Hartford Business Journal

Biz Briefs Tel: (860) 236-9998 | Fax: (860) 570-2493 Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Hartford Business Journal P.O Box 330 Congers, NY 10920-9894 Peter Stanton | CEO, pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Tom Curtin | President, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com Subscriptions Annual subscriptions are $132.00. To subscribe, visit HartfordBusiness.com, email circulation@ hartfordbusiness.com, or call (845) 267-3008. Advertising For advertising information, please call (860) 236-9998. Please address all correspondence to: Hartford Business Journal, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103 Stay Connected For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to: www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln:www.linkedin.com/company/the-Hart- ford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend: www.hartfordbusiness.com/enewsletters Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is published bi-weekly, 27x per year — including two special issues in November and December — by New England Business Media, LLC, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at additional entry points. Editorial Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139 gbordonaro@hartfordbusiness.com Michelle Tuccitto Sullo | Managing Editor, ext. 127 msullo@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Health Care, Higher Education Drew Larson | Web Editor, ext. 121 alarson@hartfordbusiness.com Michael Puffer | Staff Writer, ext. 145 mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Real Estate, Economic Development, Banking & Finance Hanna Snyder Gambini | Staff Writer hgambini@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Economic Development, Arts, Culture & Tourism Skyler Frazer | Staff Writer, ext. 145 sfrazer@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Manufacturing, Cannabis, Technology, Transportation Stephanie R. Meagher | Lead Researcher Heide Martin | Research Assistant Steve Laschever | Photographer Business Tom Curtin | Publisher, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com Jessica M. Quinn | General Manager, ext. 137 jquinn@hartfordbusiness.com David Hartley | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 130, dhartley@HartfordBusiness.com Daniel Schilke | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 135, dschilke@HartfordBusiness.com Emily Paskind | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 133, epaskind@hartfordbusiness.com Tracy Rodwill | Human Resources Manager trodwill@nebusinessmedia.com Production Bartosz Zinowko | Production Director, ext. 147 bzinowko@hartfordbusiness.com 2 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 7, 2023 Tesla will open its first sales center in Connecticut at Mohegan Sun casino this fall. As Tesla preps first CT sales facility, auto dealers pledge to continue fight against direct-to-consumer sales T he state's auto dealers say they will continue to fight against direct-to-consumer sales by vehicle manufacturers, even as Tesla prepares to open its first sales center in Connecticut. In a long-running debate over whether Tesla should be allowed to sell its vehicles directly to consumers in the state, it was announced late last month that the Elon Musk-led electric car-making giant has found a way to skirt state law by opening a sales center on tribal land. Tesla will open a new vehicle showroom, sales and delivery center at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville as part of a "first-of-its-kind" venture. Mohegan Sun's Tesla EV Show- room is expected to debut this fall, giving buyers their first chance to purchase the electric vehicles in Connecticut. Tesla has been trying for several years to make inroads in Connecticut, but has faced stiff opposition from auto dealers. State law forbids motor vehicle manufacturers from selling their products directly to customers, which is the business model Tesla relies on. In response to Tesla's planned sales center, Hayden Reynolds, chairman of the Connecticut Auto- motive Retail Association, said it "does not change the discussion about Tesla and other EV manu- facturers with direct-to-consumer sales, and we continue to oppose that model." Bronin endorses Arulampalam for Hartford mayor Mayor Luke Bronin is backing Hartford Land Bank CEO Arunan Arulampalam to take over his job. Bronin — who is not running for a third, four-year term — has endorsed Arulampalam, a fellow Democrat, to be the city's next mayor. It's the latest tailwind for Arulam- palam, a political newcomer who has also received backing from the Hart- ford Democratic Town Committee. New Haven planners reject two cannabis dispensaries The New Haven City Plan Commission has rejected two separate proposals for cannabis dispensaries. The denied applications were for properties at 420 Middletown Ave. and 45 Church St. Commissioners who opposed the dispensaries cited concerns about their proximity to schools or day-care centers. At 420 Middletown Ave., Affinity Health and Wellness LLC was seeking a special permit for a cannabis dispensary in a space long-occupied by the 91 Diner. Pharmacist Ray Pantalena, prin- cipal of Affinity Health & Wellness, previously indicated he wanted to move his company's existing dispensary at 1351 Whalley Ave., to the new location because he needs more space. Meanwhile, at 45 Church St., Dharini Patel of Divine 1 LLC, sought site plan approval to convert 6,500 square feet on the ground floor of the former bank building into a hybrid recreational and medical cannabis retailer. PHOTO | FLICKR/AUSTIN KIRK Arunan Arulampalam accepts the Hartford Democratic Town Committee endorsement, accompanied by his wife, the Rev. Liza Arulampalam, and four of their five children. PHOTO | CT MIRROR/MARK PAZNIOKAS Citizens Bank eyes CT branch closure Rhode Island-based Citizens Bank is trimming its branch count in Connecticut. The lender, with $221.9 billion in assets, plans to close its Wood- bridge branch at 194 Amity Road, according to a filing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. That branch held $67.6 million in deposits as of June 30, 2022, according to Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data. Citizens has 11 other branches in New Haven County, but none in Woodbridge, FDIC data shows. As of June 30, 2022, Citizens Bank had 33 branches and $3.5 billion in deposits in Connecticut, ranking it the 10th largest lender in the state based on deposits, FDIC data shows. PURA chops UI's proposed rate hike down to $2M The state Public Utilities Regu- latory Authority has rejected nearly all of the rate hike proposed by Orange-based United Illuminating Co., in a proposed final decision issued in July. UI sought a $130.7 million revenue increase over three years, along with a 10.2% return on equity. But PURA pared down UI's request to just $2 million of additional revenue and an 8.28% return on equity. The proposed decision approves a revenue requirement of $370.4 million. The electric company's 420 Middletown Ave., New Haven. PHOTO | WILLIAM RAVEIS REAL ESTATE Citizens Bank is closing its Woodbridge branch, at 194 Amity Road. PHOTO | COSTAR

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