26 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2014
Clusters, trade groups & college programs
Aerospace Components Manufacturers, www.aerospacecomponents.org
Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, www.ccat.us
Connecticut Economic Development Association, www.cedas.org
Connecticut Technology Council, www.ct.org
Connecticut United for Research Excellence, www.curenet.org
Institute of Technology & Business Development, www.ccsu.edu/itbd
Insurance and Financial Services Cluster, www.connecticutifs.com
UConn Office of Economic Development, innovation.uconn.edu
Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, yei.yale.edu
Connecticut Department of Economic and
Community Development
What is it? The DECD is a state agency that serves as the lead organization
in charge of promoting economic development in the state.
What does it do? A lot. The DECD is the umbrella organization for four key
programs: business development, tourism, the arts and historic preservation.
Under the business development umbrella, DECD offers a variety of incentives
for business growth, including loan programs for small, medium- and large-
sized businesses. The Office of Tourism helps market the state as a place to
visit and vacation. The Office of the Arts manages grant programs aimed at
strengthening the arts in the state. And finally, the state Historic Preservation
Office manages a range of federal and state programs related to historic build-
ings, sites, structures, districts and objects.
How do I learn more? Visit www.ct.gov/ecd.
Connecticut Innovations
What is it? CT Innovations is a quasi-public agency. It is governed by a
17-member board of directors that includes appointees selected by the gover-
nor and state legislature.
What does it do? CI, as it is known, is a resource for startups as well as
established companies in the state. It provides seed capital to startups and debt
financing to more mature companies. CI also has a Small Business Innovation
Team that helps companies in variety of ways, including through the application
process for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants. Recently, CI has
begun administering the state's Bioscience Innovation Fund and has launched
CTNext, which is aimed at sparking entrepreneurial activity throughout the state.
How do I learn more? Visit www.ctinnovations.com.
Looking to start a business
in Connecticut? Looking
to expand? Or maybe
you're looking to relocate
an existing firm. There
are a wide variety of public
and private organizations
established to help foster
business growth within the
Nutmeg State.
The key resources for
businesses in Connecticut
are outlined within
the next few pages.
CTResources4biz
Catherine Smith,
commissioner
The Connecticut Technology Council has
several marquee events throughout the
year, including Women of Innovation, which
had its 10th anniversary this year.
Claire Leonardi, CEO
