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www.HartfordBusiness.com August 7, 2017 • Hartford Business Journal 7 WHAT'S AHEAD: ■ 8/21 Focus: Continuing and Graduate Education ■ The List: MBA and Graduate Programs ■ Nonprofit Profile: CRIS Radio CALENDAR WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23 MetroHartford Alliance's Rising Star Breakfast The MetroHartford Alliance will host its monthly Rising Star Breakfast Aug. 23, at the Marriott Hartford Downtown, 200 Columbus Blvd. The event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., will feature Jen Grace Baron, founding partner and chief inspiration officer of InspireCorps. Her talk will be about inspirational leadership, and how companies and individuals can find the best way to deliver extraordinary results at work. Cost to attend is $20. F O R A C O M P L E T E L I S T O F G R E A T E R H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S E V E N T S , G O T O W W W . H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S . C O M A N D C L I C K O N ' C A L E N D A R . ' A L L C A L E N D A R I T E M S M U S T B E S U B M I T T E D E L E C T R O N I C A L L Y V I A O U R W E B S I T E , H A R T F O R D B U S I N E S S . C O M . ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & CONSTRUCTION Hartford Club snags $400K CT loan/grant The Hartford Club has received a $300,000 loan and $100,000 matching grant from Connecticut's Small Business Express pro- gram to fund renovations. The 144-year-old members-only club at 46 Prospect St. down- town received the funds in mid-June, said Jim Watson, spokes- man for the state Department of Economic and Community Devel- opment, which administers the Small Business Express program. The club plans to use the funds to do more interior work, in- cluding some new carpeting, painting and updating of machinery and kitchen equipment. The Hartford Club has faced tough times in recent years after nearly losing its longtime home to foreclosure. The club started renovations earlier this year including a newly refurbished mem- ber lounge. Under the state program, the club is receiving a 10-year, 3 per- cent loan. It also must match the $100,000 grant, retain its 20 employees, plus add five more positions. Jen Grace Baron FORUM 2017 DC Wednesday, September 13 and Thursday, September 14 "Challenges, Opportunities and Innovation in the Connecticut Health Sector." AT&T FORUM - 5 TH Floor | 601 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, NW | WASHINGTON DC JOIN US AS WE: Help leverage Connecticut's health sector as a driver of economic growth. Set the course for providing valuable health care to Connecticut residents. Drive the strategic direction of the Connecticut Health Council. $500 FOR CHC FOUNDING PARTNERS | $750 FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC To register, or for more information visit www.cthealthcouncil.com The Connecticut Health Council's DC Forum features two days of programming, including panel discussions, break-out planning sessions and networking with business leaders and legislators at an exclusive reception on Wednesday evening. ECONOMY & LABOR Survey says: CT view of state economy dim The public's view of economic conditions in the state has taken a turn for the worse, according to a fresh survey from InformCT. Following several quarters of increasing optimism, survey re- sults worsened in the second quarter, with 35 percent of respon- dents saying economic conditions were worse compared to six months prior, the new consumer confidence survey reports. That's an increase of 8 percentage points compared to the first quarter and 10 percentage points compared to the year-ago period. InformCT, a public-private partnership whose analysis is ad- ministered by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center Inc. and Smith & Co., surveyed 505 state residents. One-third of second-quarter respondents also predicted that overall business conditions would decline within six months, com- pared to 25 percent holding that belief in the first quarter and 27 percent with that view a year ago. A smaller share (23 percent) thought conditions would be bet- ter in six months compared to last quarter (30 percent) and last year at this time (25 percent). Tom Natola, general manager of the Hartford Club, said a new bar and other planned investments should be a boon to membership. P H O T O | H B J F I L E