Hartford Business Journal

November 23, 2015

Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/604506

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 0 of 23

G R E AT E R H A R T F O R D ' S B U S I N E S S N E W S w w w. H a r t f o rd B u s i n e s s . c o m For more B2B news visit NOVEMBER 23, 2015 Volume 23, Number 52 $3.00 Subscribe online Reinvented and reinvigorated. Book of Lists 2 0 1 5 / 2 0 1 6 Reserve Your Space Today! Ad Space Closing: 11/30/15 Release Date: 12/28/15 Index ■ Reporter's Notebook: PG. 5 ■ Week in Review: PG. 6 ■ The List: PG. 9 ■ Deal Watch: PG. 10 ■ Nonprofit Notebook: PG. 16 ■ Movers & Shakers: PG. 16 ■ Opinion & Commentary: PG. 20 FOCUS: ADVERTISING, MARKETING, MEDIA Political Pros Find out why a Glastonbury integrated communications firm sees upside in opening a public affairs agency that aims to help individuals and organizations advance their political agendas. PG. 8 Pension Fix Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his chief budget director Benjamin Barnes say without major pension reforms the state of Connecticut will face the threat of major tax increases. PG. 3 SLOWING DEMAND Hartford leaders urge CT to privatize its city realty By Gregory Seay gseay@HartfordBusiness.com A leading promoter of the Hartford region's economic development and the city's incoming mayor are urging the state to bundle and sell to private investors — and lease back from them — its city office and other buildings to ease the city's property-tax burden. MetroHartford Alliance CEO Oz Griebel has sent a letter to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy urging the Democratic governor to consider remov- ing state-owned Hartford properties from reli- ance on "payments in lieu of taxes,'' or PILOT payments, which many argue don't adequately reimburse the city for tax-exempt property. The sale-leaseback proposal pitched by Griebel is one of a number of ideas that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy solicited during a mid-October meeting with a select group of MetroHartford Alliance executives and members. "… Such an action,'' Griebel wrote in his Oct. 29 letter to Malloy, "would complement the sig- nificant housing and other real estate investment made by the state in the city over the past 20 years by increasing the city's woefully weak grand list and thereby help to reduce the horrific mill rate that essentially eliminates private investment in real and personal property in Hartford.'' Hartford Mayor-Elect Luke Bronin, who during his campaign pledged to pursue efforts to broaden and equalize the city's property-tax base, agrees. As the state capitol, Hartford is home to the bulk of the state's administrative, executive and legislative offices and customer- service centers. Hartford, too, is base for a large number of nonprofit organizations, churches Luke Bronin, Hartford Mayor-Elect Oz Griebel, CEO, MetroHartford Alliance Continued on page 14 By Matt Pilon mpilon@HartfordBusiness.com A fter a period of enrollment growth during the most recent economic recession, Con- necticut community colleges are facing continued declines in their student populations. Combined full-time and part-time enroll- ment at the dozen community colleges in the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities System (CSCU) stands at 52,851, down 4.2 percent from fall 2014, according to state data. Continued on page 11 Community colleges attempt to counter enrollment declines Despite enrollment declines, Capital Community College President Wilfredo Nieves and Dean of Student Services Dorris Arrington say their programs are vital. H B J P H O T O | M A T T P I L O N

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Hartford Business Journal - November 23, 2015