Citing job growth as the top priority for Senate Democrats in 2012, Democratic senators detailed a jobs plan in January that will help local, small businesses protect and grow jobs and boost Connecticut’s economy.

Our plan builds on the momentum created by the comprehensive and far-reaching bipartisan jobs bill we passed during October’s special session on jobs and the economy. While legislation supporting this agenda passed the Senate with bipartisan support during the 2012 regular session, it is our hope that final action will be taken during a special session this summer.

The Senate Democrats’ jobs plan includes:

1. Expanding the definition of a ‘small business’ from 50 employees to 100 employees, thereby making them eligible for the Small Business Express Program and other programs created during the October special session. More than 3,600 additional businesses would now be eligible for $100 million in state-funded business loans and grants under the expanded definition. The funds, divided over two years, are available to state businesses for new job creation incentives, increasing financial assistance for small businesses and for training assistance.
     Small businesses (100 or fewer employees) are real job creators in Connecticut, employing over 60 percent of the state’s total workforce. The Small Business Express Program supports the retention and growth of small business in Connecticut through a combination of loans and grants, incorporating a streamlined process that provides financial assistance in the form of revolving loan funds, job creation incentives and matching grants.
2. Expanding STEP-Up (Subsidized Training and Employment Program) to give businesses incentive grants to hire post-9/11 combat veterans returning from overseas. The STEP-Up program already promotes job creation and worker opportunity for Connecticut small businesses and the unemployed by subsidizing certain new employee training and employment with $30 million in state aid over two years; the proposed expansion of the program would specifically help veterans.
     It was recently reported that nationally, the average unemployment rate for veterans aged 20 to 24 is 30 percent, more than double the unemployment rate of non-veterans of the same age. According to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans in Connecticut in 2010 was 15.5 percent, compared with 11.5 percent nationally. For all veterans, the unemployment figure in Connecticut in 2010 was 9.2 percent, compared with 8.7 percent nationally.
3. Creating a ‘Connecticut Made’ marketing campaign to spur local businesses, both production and retail. The campaign would be administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which would (within available appropriations) provide for the design, planning, and implementation of a multiyear, state-wide marketing and advertising plan that includes television and radio advertisements showcasing Connecticut-made products and the advantages they offer; establish and continuously update an associated website that lists Connecticut manufacturers, the products they make, and the retailers that sell them; help Connecticut manufacturers and producers access the appropriate economic development organizations; and foster contacts and relationships between businesses making or producing Connecticut products and retailers, marketers, chambers of commerce, regional tourism districts, and other potential institutional customers (i. e. , program stakeholders).
4. Preventing discrimination against the unemployed. Statutory changes would prevent employment agencies and Web sites from carrying advertisements for job openings that specifically exclude the unemployed.
     The federal Labor Department reports that 14 million Americans are currently unemployed, almost half of them classified as ‘long-term unemployed,’ having been out of work for 27 weeks or more. In the current economy, some employers are taking advantage of the high jobless rate by discriminating against the unemployed, going as far as to say “unemployed need not apply” in their job postings, or offering jobs only to those who are either currently employed or very recently unemployed.
5. Creating a ‘Connecticut Treasures’ program. Connecticut has a wealth of educational and tourist destinations, and under our legislation the DECD commissioner shall consult with the Culture and Tourism Advisory Committee to develop a program to designate locations in the state with cultural, educational, or historical significance as “Connecticut Treasures”. This program will include a “CT Treasures Passport”, which will provide free or reduced admission to these locations for children younger than 18 who are accompanied by an adult. This program, like CT-Made, will be done within available appropriations.
6. First Five Plus Expansion. Under current law, the DECD commissioner can give preference to specific business development projects. This legislation expands the preference to projects that involve “insourcing” or the relocation of jobs outside the US to Connecticut.

The General Assembly—working with Governor Malloy—proved that it is possible for Republicans and Democrats to work together to grow jobs and strengthen the economy. The historic legislation that was passed makes Connecticut an easier place to do business by streamlining burdensome regulations, increasing training opportunities for the unemployed, reforming our tax structure to encourage growth and investing in the bioscience industry. This bipartisan jobs package will help grow and retain thousands of jobs.

Senate President Donald Williams said, “Our jobs bill will help small businesses expand and create jobs, cut red tape, and better train and match our students for the high-tech jobs of tomorrow. And our investment in Jackson Labs lays the groundwork for the next chapter in Connecticut’s economic history, which is biomedical science.”

We offer for download our more detailed (PDF) guide to the fruits of this Jobs Bill with descriptions of programs and contact information for each one.

Two bills were passed during the session. The first, An Act Promoting Economic Growth and Job Creation in the State, includes:

Small Business Growth—Helping small businesses to expand and create jobs by leveling the playing field and cutting taxes for small businesses.

• Cut the business entity tax in half by reducing the annual $250 fee to a single biennial payment.
• Streamline and increase existing tax credits for new hires ($500/hire) and the unemployed, veterans and the disabled ($900/hire).
• Provide funds for small businesses to expand, since banks aren’t lending
• Create a Small Business Express Package—a rapid response program for investment in business growth, hiring and working capital that includes: revolving loans, forgivable loans and matching grants.
• Create STEP Up, a subsidized training and employment program where employers are paid to hire and train workers who are unemployed for over six months.

Making Government More Accessible—Cutting red tape and reducing burdens.

• Increase government efficiency by streamlining processes, and eliminating or consolidating excessive regulations.
• Develop a plan to pre-permit properties and market them, creating a one-stop shop online for business interactions with the state.

Spurring Innovation in Connecticut—Investing in the companies of tomorrow’s economy

• Expand the “First Five” program to 10 companies focusing on bringing new jobs to Connecticut.
• Expand Connecticut Innovations by building innovation centers in key cities to connect entrepreneurs with mentors, talent, support, ideas, services and capital. Also launch ‘Startup Connecticut’ to get new businesses on a path to success.
• Expand and lower the threshold (to minimum $25,000 investment) of the Angel Investment Tax Credit to help more startup companies, large and small, get capital that banks won’t lend.

Developing our Workforce—Matching talents to jobs, training for the future

• Develop and enhance educational offerings to match employer needs, with a focus on manufacturing.
• Recruit students for vo-tech, agricultural science and tech education by promoting their benefits with middle school parents and local boards of education.
• Establish manufacturing technology programs at 3 community colleges and 3 vo-tech schools.

Investing in Infrastructure—Laying the groundwork for economic growth

• Invest in shovel-ready bridge repair and replacement (Fix It First)
• Create a Main Street Investment Fund to improve commercial centers, targeting towns with populations under 30,000.
• Clean up and market 5 state-owned brownfields for interested developers.
• Allow the Airport Authority to designate low-tax development zones near airports.
• Help nonprofits and housing authorities replace their boilers to save on energy costs.
• Explore public-private partnerships to secure private money for infrastructure projects.
• Create a program to develop unused state-owned land for agriculture and reimburse farmers for reclaiming pastures.

The second bill passed in the special session was An Act Establishing the Connecticut Bioscience Collaboration Program.

Investing In Our Biomedical Future—Welcoming the world-renowned Jackson Laboratory and its genomic research to Connecticut’s own research triangle

• Contributing $291 million toward a $1.1 billion, transformative biomedical facility that is expected to create almost 900 construction jobs over the next few years and as many as 6,000 long-term jobs over the next two decades.
• $192 million is for facilities and equipment in which Connecticut has a secured interest; if Jackson Labs fails to meet its 10-year job creation target, Connecticut owns the facility and all equipment.
• Spurring even more job growth and attracting private investment to Connecticut’s own, burgeoning ‘research triangle’ of UConn Storrs, the UConn Health/Bioscience Center in Farmington, and Yale University.

Read the bill analysis of SB 1401

This bill expands and renovates the UConn Health Center and is projected to create at least 16,000 high-quality jobs, attract millions of dollars in federal funding, and improve access to health care for families across Connecticut. Specifics of the plan include:

• Renovation of the UConn Health Center to increase bioscience research capacity and productivity, increase the number of clinical/translational scientists, and expand incubator facilities to foster new business start-ups;
• Construction of new patient tower and new ambulatory care facility;
• Creation of the Connecticut Institute for Primary Care at Saint Francis Hospital intended to increase the number of primary care providers in Connecticut;
• Establishment of a comprehensive cancer center to expand clinical trials; and,
• Investment in a UConn-sponsored health disparities institute designed to enhance the delivery of care to minority and medically underserved people.

Read the bill analysis: SB 1152

This bill provides bonding for a world-class research and technology park at the University of Connecticut’s main campus in Storrs. The $172.5 million project is expected to create thousands of high-quality jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in federal and private funding.

The project calls for construction of a 125,000 square-foot multi-story building comprised primarily of large, flexible-use laboratories containing specialized equipment for collaborative industry-university research.

The tech-park will eventually include multiple buildings, many of which could be privately funded. Additionally, the biennial budget includes an ‘Innovation Partners Eminent Faculty Program’ to attract the nation’s top scientists and leverage millions of dollars in federal and private investment.

Read more about this plan.

The First Five jobs creation program provides substantial state financial assistance to the first five new businesses in Connecticut that create at least 200 new jobs by July 1, 2013 or invest at least $25 million and creates at least 200 jobs within the next five years. The bill exempts these first five business projects from various legislative caps on financial assistance amounts, and it expands the Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Tax Credit from $500 million to $750 million and expands the Job Creation Tax Credit from $11 million to $20 million.

During the October Jobs Session five more businesses were added to the first year of the program.

Read the bill analysis: SB 1001

This bill remakes the way Connecticut oversees its airports by creating a new, 11-member Connecticut Airport Authority whose goal is to turn airports like Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks into job-making engines of economic development. The bill provides for the Airport Authority to take over from the DOT the management, operation and development of Bradley International and five other state-owned, general aviation airports: Brainard, Groton-New London, Danielson, Windham and Waterbury-Oxford.

Read the bill analysis: SB 1003

This bill allows the University of Connecticut and state universities to take advantage of up to $150,000 in “pre-seed” economic assistance to help commercialize any university-owned technology that it may be developed with private companies.

Read the bill analysis: SB 1173

This bill gives developers more time to complete certain ongoing projects without seeking re-approval of their permits from a land use commission or an inland wetlands agency.

Read the bill: PA 11-5

Capping months of hard work by a coalition of Democratic legislators and private-sector business leaders, this bill has been hailed as “ground breaking” and sending “a clear message” that Connecticut is investing its tax dollars to create high-quality jobs.

“Legislators took several positive steps to help improve our economy, public education, and the regulatory climate in Connecticut, which will make the state a more attractive place for business investment and job creation,” said John R. Rathgeber, president and CEO of the CBIA. “Lawmakers passed historic education and regulatory reforms, along with a jobs bill, that will help move the state forward.”

The Majority Leaders’ bill:

• assists small businesses with a revolving loan program of up to $500,000
• creates an angel investor program for start-up capital, giving a 25 percent tax break on individual investments up to $100,000 in certain high-tech start-ups such as bioscience and information technology
• initiates a pilot program to help manufacturing companies implement green strategies
• provides a loan forgiveness program for Connecticut students who graduate from state universities and then secure jobs in various green technology fields, the life sciences or health information technology;
• provides technical assistance for businesses seeking foreign markets for their goods and services;
• requires Connecticut’s Community-Technical College system to develop training programs that prepare unemployed people to meet future job needs; and,
• establishes a task force to increase government efficiency and eliminate waste.

Read the legislation: PA 10-75

A Hartford Business Journal news story called it “possibly the biggest legislative victory for businesses this session,” and “sweeping regulatory reform.”

“This shows that Connecticut will be more business friendly,” said Bill Ethier, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Connecticut. “It sends a good message to the entire business community here and across the country.”

They’re referring to a unanimous and bipartisan bill that streamlines, shortens and simplifies the state Department of Environmental Protection’s permitting process for large economic development projects.

For too long, businessmen have complained that the DEP’s permitting process does not allow the timeliness or security that companies need to make large investments in buildings, products and jobs.

But that problem was fixed this session with a bill which:

• establishes time frames for completing the review of permit applications;
• creates a new program for expediting permits for projects of economic significance;
• creates a statewide permit ombudsman and requires the designation of a business ombudsman with the Departments of Environmental Protection, Transportation and Public Health;
• reduces permit application requirements for certain categories of facilities;
• establishes a review of procedures for adopting general permits and recommendations for improvement; and,
• sets up a new “consulting services program” within the DEP to improve compliance assistance.

Read the legislation: PA 10-158

After months of debate and the consideration of many options, a bill which re-makes UConn’s John Dempsey teaching hospital in Farmington and creates several tax-friendly enterprise zones for bioscience-related businesses was passed this session with an overwhelming 77 percent support in the legislature.

Using a combination of new and existing state bonding and private funding, and contingent on securing a competitive federal grant, the plan will:

• construct a new, 234-bed tower and renovations of academic, clinical and research space at UConn’s aging John Dempsey Hospital;
• create an enterprise zone for bioscience-related businesses in Hartford, Farmington, New Britain and Bristol; and,
• develop regional health network initiatives, including a simulation and conference center on the Hartford Hospital campus; a Connecticut Institute for Primary Care at Saint Francis Hospital; a comprehensive cancer center to expand clinical trials in the Hartford region; a UConn-sponsored health disparities institute; and programs at The Hospital of Central Connecticut and Bristol Hospital.

Read the legislation: PA 10-104

This landmark energy reform legislation—the most important in over a decade—would have implemented a process to lower Connecticut’s electric rates by 15 percent, promote Connecticut-based renewable energy generation, consolidate various state energy entities, and provide assistance for state residents to make efficiency and renewable energy improvements in their own homes. Regrettably, the bill was vetoed by then Governor Rell.

The bill would have helped consumers by adjusting current electricity buying practices and adding new electric generation capacity. It also would have provided grants and loans to homeowners for solar power systems, natural gas and oil furnaces, boilers, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) projects, and other technologies.

The legislation introduced new protections for consumers in the electric supplier market; suppliers must now provide customers a written contract specifying electric rates and the right to cancel the contract within three days.

Businesses would have been helped, too: there were incentives for businesses to invest in renewable energy, such as solar power energy systems made by Connecticut companies. It provided job training and other assistance to minority-owned energy businesses, and created renewable energy incentives for green energy investments in recognized enterprise zones.

The bill would also have protected the environment by increasing our commitment to generating more energy from renewable sources, such as solar, photovoltaic, wind, and hydro-electric sources, instead of the dirty coal that all too often has been the source for Connecticut’s increasing energy demands.

Read the bill: Senate Bill 493

Connecticut will finally join a host of other states that have long recognized the value of growing a distinct set of industries around its airports—airports which are no longer just vacation jump-off spots but serve as major hubs for business and industry.

A new bill which received broad bipartisan support will provide tax incentives in new development zones in Windsor Locks, Suffield, East Granby and Windsor.

Companies that build new, renovate or expand existing facilities qualify for a property tax exemption equal to 80 percent of improvement’s assessed value—and it’s good for five years. The facilities have to be used to manufacture, process, or assemble raw materials, parts, or manufactured products; perform research and development directly related to manufacturing; and significantly service, overhaul, or rebuild machinery and equipment for industrial uses.

Warehousing and motor freight distribution uses also qualify for these incentives, but only if they handle goods shipped by air. Business services, including information technology, also qualify for incentives if the state Department of Economic and Community Development determines they depend upon or relate directly to the airport.

Read the legislation: PA 10-98

PA 10-145 requires the appointment of a state Small Business Advisory Board to be the single contact point for small businesses seeking financial and technical assistance, to coordinate all state small business revolving loan funds, and to establish an informational Web page listing all small business resources.

PA 10-135 expands the scope of several state brownfield clean up programs.

PA 10-156 requires state colleges and universities to publicize their green technology initiatives and to publish a list of every green jobs course and academic program in the state.

PA 10-190 provides several forms of assistance to so-called “micro businesses” with annual gross revenues under $3 million.