Despite the uncertainty of the national economy, Connecticut’s unemployment rate remains low. Since taking office in 1995 Governor Rowland has worked to improve our state’s competitiveness to help retain and create jobs.

Creating conditions to improve the economy has happened on many levels. A strong education system, improving transportation, the corporate tax burden and controlling state spending are among the many factors to have helped create a job-friendly climate.

State spending has been held to sensible levels even during the years the state enjoyed record-breaking surpluses. Governor Rowland has kept state spending in check, with real spending growth rates of just over two percent annually between 1995 and 2003.

Governor Rowland believes taxes should be cut whenever and wherever possible. Between 1995 and 2002, Governor Rowland cut taxes by almost $2 billion, including the corporate, income and gas taxes and providing a property tax credit from the state income tax.

For the first time in state history, tax rebate checks were returned to taxpayers in 1998 and again in 1999.

In 2003, during the national economic slowdown, Governor Rowland held the line on tax increases, vetoing three budgets he felt relied to heavily upon them and not enough on spending reductions.

To spur the state’s economy and create jobs, Governor Rowland reduced the corporate tax rate and improved the state's overall business climate.

The state’ economy has transitioned from one dependent on insurance and defense to one more diverse and resilient, with a burgeoning technology sector. Key growth sectors are being nurtured through his Industry Clusters program, including manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications and information, and high technology.

Transportation

Governor Rowland and the Legislature created the Transportation Strategy Board (TSB) in 2000 to address highway congestion and build better transportation system. Plans for better transportation systems underway for all parts of the state, including the I-84, I-91, I-95 and I-395 corridors.

More than $1.5 billion has been spent on at least 170 transportation improvement projects in Southwestern Connecticut. Almost half of this amount has been spent on mass transit – including the addition of 10,000 seats to Metro-North trains.

A new, 1,000 space parking garage was built in Bridgeport. Ridership from Bridgeport is up more than 160 percent since 1996.

$100 million dollar has been dedicated to the Stamford Rail Station Improvement Project – the busiest train station in Connecticut- and includes a new $20 million parking garage.

Bradley Airport has undergone the largest expansion in history and now considered a major gateway to New England.