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6 Hartford Business Journal • December 5, 2016 www.HartfordBusiness.com TOP STORY Trump's Carrier deal draws UTC in political crosshairs It took just one tweet last week for the deep divide over President-elect Donald Trump to flare again. Carrier, a Farmington-based company that makes air conditioners, tweet- ed that it had reached a deal with Trump to save nearly 1,000 factory jobs in Indiana from going to Mexico. Many conservatives erupted in praise for Trump the job saver who is al- ready delivering on his promises. Many liberals erupted in skepticism. They demanded details of just how much Trump must have had to give away to save only half of the jobs Carrier intended to take to Mexico. Carrier poses an early critical test for Trump, who promised during the campaign to keep American jobs from fleeing to Mexico. It also put Farm- ington-based United Technologies Corp., the parent to Carrier, in the political crosshairs, and may have provided a small window into Trump's economic strategy as he prepares to take office in January. Carrier announced in February that it would close two Indiana plants, costing a total of 2,100 jobs. It's unclear what will happen to the other jobs. GOVERNMENT & LAW CBIA's Stewart to lead CPA society Bonnie Stewart, a top lobbyist and executive at the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, has been named executive director of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA). The new post becomes effective at the beginning of January. Stewart succeeds Executive Director Arthur J. Renner, a CPA who is retir- ing after 20 years as the CEO of the CPA membership association. She is cur- rently vice president of government and public affairs as well as general coun- sel at CBIA. Lobbying firm headed by former House Speaker expands Former Democratic House Speaker James Amann's Milford-based lobbying firm has bought out a competitor and hired the son of former Republican Gov. Jodi M. Rell. International Government Strategies LLC is expanding with the addition of lobbyist Michael Rell of Wethersfield and industry veteran Marshall Collins. Amann last week announced the staffing additions, which include the merger of Collins' firm, Marshall R. Collins & Associates. Amann, a former Democratic state Speaker of the House and long-time state representative from Milford, founded IGS in 2010 with former Milford state senator Win Smith. TRANSPORTATION Rail, bus fare hikes coming Dec. 1, 4 Rail and bus fare increases have taken effect in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Transportation decided to implement fare in- creases rather than cut service as it prepares for budget cuts, the agency said. Train fares have gone up 6 percent, including a previously approved 1 percent increase on Dec. 1. Bus fares have increased 16.7 percent, or 25 cents on a single one-way CTtransit bus trip. The new rates were announced in October following a series of six public hearings around the state on the proposed rail and bus fare increases. While some opposed a fare increase, there were no recommendations to cut service. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Bloomfield in running for $78.5M Trader Joe's distribution hub Trader Joe's is considering locating a $78.5 million regional distribution facil- ity in Bloomfield and bringing with it 675 new jobs, a prospect the town mayor is welcoming. "The interest is mutual," said Mayor Joan A. Gamble. "What they're asking for and what we're willing to do is up to negotiations, but the idea of bringing in such a huge number of jobs is very good. They're entry and upper-level jobs and Trader Joe's is an outstanding company." In a Nov. 29 letter to the town planner, George Tobjy, managing director for New York City-based KPMG, said the grocer is weighing possible locations for the facility in Connecticut and New York. The project would encompass a 690,000-square-foot warehouse, which will include 90,000 square feet of fro- zen food storage and some light manufacturing. SPORTS Hartford getting a pro soccer team Hartford City FC is joining the National Premier Soccer League as an expan- sion team that will compete in the Northeast region's Atlantic Conference, the league announced. Hartford City FC is led by Aaron Sarwar and Hami Kara. The pair ran the NPSL press release on their Hartford City FC Facebook page and an evolving new website. "We joined the NPSL because it is a respected league with a proven track re- cord," Sarwar said. "They have had great success in markets such as Hartford." Sarwar, who will serve as the club's owner, is a Hartford native whose family owns the Shish Kebab House of Afghanistan in West Hartford. Sarwar's father, Naseer Sarwar, is a partner and investor in the team. Kara, who will serve as the team's captain, is a goalkeeper. It's not clear where the team will play. HEALTH CARE Two CT radiology groups establish joint venture Two Connecticut radiology companies have formed the Charter Radiology Network, a management-services organization that will enable them to work together toward the Affordable Care Act's "triple aim" of improved patient health and satisfaction at less cost. Jefferson Radiology of East Hartford and Advanced Radiology Consultants of Shelton announced the cooperative venture last week. Bob Evangelista, ARC's marketing manager, and Rod Neaveill, Jefferson Radiology's senior director of marketing and business development, say the initiative is not a merger but rather a separate business entity owned 50 percent by each company. So far, the Charter Radiology Network is not yet staffed, but has three represen- tatives from each company on a six-member board of directors, Evangelista said. Clark Yoder, CEO of Advanced Radiology Consultants, says the new venture is a response to public demand for improved healthcare access, safety, afford- ability and quality. ENERGY & UTILITIES Mass. solar installer targets CT A Massachusetts solar developer-installer has hired a longtime Connecticut ener- gy executive to help it gain traction into the Nutmeg State's commercial solar market. Solect Energy said last week that it's hired Kent McCord as business-devel- opment director. McCord was most recently director of sales and marketing at South Windsor's Doosan Fuel Cell (formerly ClearEdge Power and UTC Power). He had worked for the companies since 2001, departing in late September. McCord will receive support from Solect's Massachusetts headquarters, ac- cording to Solect, which has not announced plans to open an office here. Founded in 2009, Solect had installed more than 31 megawatts of solar capac- ity through 2015. Connecticut is Solect's third market. CT projects competitive in smaller energy RFP Large proposed solar farms in Enfield and Wallingford are among 10 Con- necticut clean-energy projects that could become a reality as soon as next year, following a state-run selection process. Connecticut's sole commercial wind farm, in Colebrook, could also gain a third turbine, according to details released last week by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), which oversaw the procurement seeking projects between 2 and 20 megawatts in size. In all, DEEP selected 24 solar and wind projects totaling 371.5 megawatts in generation capacity. Of that number, 10 projects totaling 137 megawatts of capacity would be located within Connecticut, DEEP said. That means in-state projects represented 37 percent of the total capacity selected. BY THE NUMBERS $230,000 The amount Republicans spent on digital advertising in state legislative races this year, compared to $20,400 for Democrats, which helped the GOP gain seats in the House and Senate, according to the CTMirror. 2nd Connecticut's ranking in a survey by financial news website 24/7 Wall St., which identified the best states in the U.S. to live in, based on wealth and public safety. 3 The number of years it would take to renovate XL Center, under the $250 million redevelopment plan officially backed by the Capital Region Development Authority. 27.3% The percentage of state lawmakers who will be women when the legislative session begins in January, which represents a slight dip from recent years, according to the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors. TOP 5 MOST READ on HartfordBusiness.com ■ Hartford getting a professional soccer team ■ Lobbying firm headed by former House Speaker expands ■ CBIA's Stewart to lead CPA society ■ CT projects competitive in smaller energy RFP ■ Mass. solar installer targets CT 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 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Green Guide Weekly, CT Health Care Weekly www.HartfordBusiness.com/subscribe WEEK IN REVIEW President-elect Donald Trump. P H O T O | C N N