Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com October 10, 2016 • Hartford Business Journal 7 MANUFACTURING UConn to launch CT Manufacturing Simulation Center UConn, working with the U.S. Economic Development Adminis- tration and Connecticut Innovations, is creating a center to share computer-modeling facilities and expertise with Connecticut manufacturers. The goal is to help companies using the facility create products faster and more efficiently. A $2.1 million combined investment over five years will create the Connecticut Manufacturing Simulation Center, or CMSC, which will give small and medium-sized Connecticut companies access to resources for computational design, modeling and simulation, as well as high-performance computing hardware. By using computer models to test and modify new product designs and manufacturing processes virtually before making a physical prototype, almost all manufacturing companies can low- er their design and manufacturing costs, said UConn Engineering Dean Kazem Kazerounian. The CMSC — to be housed within UConn's new Tech Park, with the first building scheduled for completion next year — will work on a subscription model, giving businesses access to modeling technology for a fraction of the cost of installing a similar high- performance computing system. REAL ESTATE Warren survey stamps CT's rosy housing picture Connecticut's single-family home sales rose 12 percent in Au- gust to their highest in nearly a decade, validating state Realtors' earlier report tracking a similar spike in sales. There were 3,698 one-family dwellings sold in August vs. 3,303 closings the same month last year, The Warren Group, Bos- ton publisher of The Commercial Record, said. August was the highest home-sales month in this state this year since June, and the highest monthly total since Aug. 2007, The Warren Group said. Year-to-date, sales were up 10.2 percent with 21,320 closings vs. 19,338 during the same timeframe a year ago, it said. The median price of a single-family home rose 1.9 percent in August to $260,000 vs. $255,000 a year ago. The median sale price remains unchanged from last month. Year-to-date, prices have fallen by 0.5 percent, to $249,000 vs. $250,255 during the same time a year ago. TRANSPORTATION Rail, bus ticket hikes coming in December Rail and bus fare price hikes go into effect in December, follow- ing six public hearings around Connecticut. Starting Dec. 1, train fares will increase by 6 percent, including a previously approved 1 percent increase, state Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker said. Starting Dec. 4, bus fares will go up 16.7 percent, or 25 cents on a single one-way CTtransit bus trip. The fare increases are intended to sustain budget requirements and maintain bus and rail service statewide, Redeker said. WHAT'S AHEAD: ■ 10/17 Focus: Transportation/ Construction ■ The List: Bradley Flight lists ■ Nonprofit Profile: Billings Forge CALENDAR OCT. 26-27 Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference The Geno Auriemma UConn Leadership Conference will take place Oct. 26 and 27 at the Mohegan Sun Convention Center in Uncasville, providing participants the opportunity to hear from prominent business executives, thought leaders, academic experts and their industry peers. The speakers and panelists will share best practices in an intimate setting designed for high levels of interaction, learning and sharing. Breakout sessions will be divided by industry allowing participants the opportunity to examine strategy and approaches necessary to lead, motivate, and inspire top performance from everyone in their workforce. Speakers will include: Lisa Borders, president, Women's National Basketball Associations (WNBA); George Aylward, president and CEO, Virtus Investment Partners; Joseph Papa, CEO and chairman, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., among others. Cost to attend is: $1,495 for UConn alumni; $1,695 for non-alumni. For more information or to register go to: http://genoleads.uconn.edu/. Geno Auriemma Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. © 2016 Comcast. All rights reserved. www.connstep.org/forum/ Your first step to better business. Join us for a special presentation designed to help manufacturers discover how to build a valuable, healthy and profitable business. You will learn: • what a healthy business should look like • what affects the health of a business • which risk factors can impact the value of your business In addition, a panel of top business sector leaders will share their expertise on topics covering: • Customer diversity • Talent recruitment and retention • Strategic business growth strategies • Broker sales, mergers and acquisitions • Capital management and more Wed., October 26, 2016 7:30 am - 12 noon The Sheraton Hartford South 100 Capital Blvd. Rocky Hill, CT WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Presidents, CEOs, CFOs, and Business Owners Tickets are $25 per person and include a continental breakfast RESERVE YOUR SPOT by Wed., October 19th at: Building the Manufacturing Simulation Center in Storrs. P H O T O | C O N T R I B U T E D

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