Hartford Business Journal

4 Hartford Business Journal • February 19, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Briefs Ford resets auto-parts hub to Windsor One of Connecticut's largest landlords will begin construction by this spring in Windsor on a new auto- parts distribution-warehouse for Detroit automaker Ford Motor Co., officials and regulatory filings say. Griffin Industrial Realty, a New York company with operating headquarters in Bloomfield, has received all necessary town approvals and has requested building permits for a 234,000-square- foot warehouse at 220 Tradeport Drive, in Griffin's New England Tradeport, Windsor officials said. A Griffin executive declined comment. However, the landlord, without naming Ford, details some of the building's plans in its latest annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to Griffin's 10-K filing, the landlord and "an investment grade company" as tenant last October signed a 12 ½-year lease, with renewal options. Jim Burke, Windsor's economic-development director, confirmed the tenant is Ford, which occupies a similar-sized parts- distribution facility at 110 Old Country Circle, in neighboring Windsor Locks. House coalition wants reversal of energy funds raid Seven Democrats and a Republican said they plan to push for at least a partial restoration of a $175 million raid from the state's energy efficiency programs passed in last October's budget. Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (D-Westport) said lawmakers voting in favor of the budget may have inflicted unintended damage on the state's energy efficiency industry, which employs approximately 34,000, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The money, generated by a charge on ratepayer utility bills as well as auctions run by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), has backed the Connecticut Green Bank, which provides loans and guarantees for efficiency and renewable energy projects, and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, which pays for energy- saving projects at homes and businesses. MetroHartford Alliance taps Minn. economic dev. expert as new CEO The MetroHartford Alliance has chosen a Minnesota-based economic development expert as its new president and CEO. The Alliance announced that David Griggs, who most recently helped lead the Greater Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership as vice president of business investment and research, will take over as its chief executive officer March 12. Griggs is replacing Oz Griebel, who recently stepped down the from the position and is now running for governor. During his tenure in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, Griggs and his partnership worked on projects that created over 25,000 jobs while investing more than $3.2 billion. His team also provided key research support for winning the 2018 Super Bowl bid. House lawmakers introduce marijuana bills Time will tell if Connecticut's legislature will change its mind on legalizing marijuana. On Feb. 14, 22 state lawmakers introduced a bill that would authorize the retail sale and taxation of marijuana and fund substance abuse and education programs. Concurrently, Rep. James Albis (D-East Haven), the House deputy majority leader, filed a second bill also calling for legalization and taxation. Similar legislation last year failed to reach a vote in either chamber. Advocates are hoping the economic impact of legalization could spur lawmakers to support the bill this session. Week in Review TOP STORY Woody's closing iconic Hartford hotdog joint T he iconic Woody's hot dog joint in downtown Hartford is closing, but the eatery could be reincarnated into a catering or food truck business, the owners say. Business owners Gary and Cindy Wood said they are negotiating with their landlord at 915 Main St. to stay open through March 17, but if that cannot be arranged, they will serve their famous hot dogs and fixings for the last time out of that location on Feb. 28. "It's been a long 41 years," said Gary Wood, 65, who had to grapple with diabetes and recently, a double hip replacement. Despite the need to unwind the downtown business, Cindy Wood, herself a cancer survivor, said the married couple is considering setting up a catering business or buying a food truck. "We have to work; we're not wealthy," she said. Acknowledging the city of Hartford has been struggling for some time, she noted, "We're not getting the business traffic we used to get." BY THE NUMBERS $244.6M Comptroller Kevin Lembo's most recent deficit projection for the fiscal year ending June 30. The legislature is in session and looking for ways to close that gap. $166M The amount of tax revenue the state could reap in 2020, should lawmakers legalize marijuana, according to a legalization coalition. $200B The amount of federal infrastructure funding proposed recently by President Donald Trump, which Gov. Dannel P. Malloy criticized as failing to live up to Trump's pledge to invest $1.5 trillion. 16,000 The number of Connecticut residents who will lose their health insurance coverage obtained through Access Health CT if they don't submit required paperwork soon, according to The Hour. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. Woody's closing iconic Hartford hotdog joint • 2. Tax reform leads MetLife to invest $10M+ in employees • 3. Pratt seeks to fix PurePower woes • 4. Advocates for marijuana sales point to big economic boost • 5. House coalition wants reversal of energy funds raid 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 Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Weekly e-newsletters: CT Health Care Weekly Cindy and Gary Wood are closing their Woody's hot dog eatery, which has been a fixture downtown for decades. PHOTO | HBJ FILE Marijuana products like these could be sold for recreational use in the state. PHOTO | HBJ FILE David Griggs, new President and CEO, MetroHartford Alliance

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