Governor Rell: Testimony Supports

Agency Consolidation

Bill Would Streamline Economic Development, Create Jobs

Governor M. Jodi Rell said her Administration submitted testimony today to bolster her bill that trims the size of government and, at the same time, streamlines and strengthens the state’s economic development efforts by designating the Department of Economic and Community as the single point of contact for business assistance.

House Bill 6369, An Act Concerning Economic Development and Job Creation, is before the Legislature’s Commerce Committee and proposes a sweeping overhaul of the state’s job creation infrastructure, consolidating everything from start-up financing to arts, tourism and film production under the DECD leadership.

“The best way to recover from this national recession is to literally work our way out,” Governor Rell said. “Creating well-paid and stable jobs by supporting new industry will position our state for enduring economic growth, while at the same time making state government smaller and more efficient and more affordable for taxpayers. My proposal will give businesses a single point of contact for assistance and continue incentives for job creation.”

The Governor’s bill would:

·        Consolidate the quasi-public Connecticut Development Authority (CDA) and Connecticut Innovations, Inc. (CII) into a new Connecticut Economic Innovations Authority under the DECD umbrella;

·        Merge the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism into DECD

·        Transfers CDA sales and tax use exemption program and several Office of Workplace Development job training and technology development programs under DECD

·        Establish two DECD grant programs to support collaborations between businesses and universities.