Inventory of Economic Development Organizations in New Britain

Prepared by: Piero Garofalo·Graduate Fellow·Trinity College
Hartford, CT 06106·(860)297-2433

Prepared for: Citizens for Action in New Britain·19 Chestnut Street
New Britain, CT 06051·(860)225-7683

Trinity Center for Neighborhoods
190 New Britain Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106-3100
(860)297-5170
Maria Simao, Project Director
Research Project 26
November, 1996

Central Connecticut State University School of Business Entrepreneurial Support Center

The Entrepreneurial Support Center at the Central Connecticut State University School of Business was shut down in 1995. There are currently no plans to replace it.

Central Connecticut Workforce Development Board

Mission: The Central Connecticut Workforce Development Board seeks to meet the employment and training challenges of the community.
Purpose: The Central Connecticut Workforce Development Board is designed to assist individuals in finding employment.
Services: The Central Connecticut Workforce Development Board provides job training and an employment referral system.

Contact:
[Rotating staff]
Central Connecticut Workforce Development Board
136 Main Street
New Britain, CT 06051
Tel. (860) 223-4421

Source: Interview.

Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development

Mission: The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development provides programs and services to set up or expand businesses.
Purpose: The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is a non-profit organization affiliated with the state, though not funded by it. It operates in partnership with the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. as an information clearinghouse to link people to the appropriate state and federal agencies and resources.
Services: The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development also offers a variety of managerial assistance programs, counseling, and incentives to small business. The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. provides information services and referrals.

Contact:
[Rotating staff]
Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development
Tel. (800) 392-2122

[Rotating staff]
Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc.
Building 4
805 Brook Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3405
Tel. (860) 571-7136
Fax: (860) 571-7150
Tel. (800) 392-2122

Source: Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development in partnership with Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. brochure and interview.

Connecticut Small Business Development Center Program

Mission: The United States Small Business Administration (SBA--see page 22 for further details) administers the Connecticut Small Business Development Center Program (CSBDC) to provide management assistance to current and prospective small and medium-sized business owners without charge.
The program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state, and local governments. It enhances economic development by providing small businesses with management and technical assistance.
CSBDC assistance is tailored to the local community and the needs of individual clients. Each center develops services in cooperation with local SBA district offices to ensure statewide coordination with other available resources.
Purpose: The CSBDC Program is designed to deliver up-to-date counseling, training and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management.
Services: CSBDC services include, but are not limited to, assisting small businesses with financial, marketing, production, organization, engineering and technical problems, and feasibility studies. Special CSBDC programs and economic-development activities include international-trade assistance, technical assistance, procurement assistance, venture-capital formation and rural development.
The CSBDC also provides specialized resources such as the Export Center, the Law Center and Community Accounting Aid Services (see page 13 for further details). In addition to counseling services, the CSBDC sponsors a broad range of training and education programs.
The CSBDCs also make special efforts to reach socially and economically disadvantaged groups, veterans, women and the disabled. Assistance is provided to both current and potential small business owners. CSBDCs also provide assistance to small businesses applying for Small Business Innovation and Research grants from federal agencies.
All CSBDC consulting and information services are offered free of charge. However, an appointment is necessary in order to meet with one of the professional consultants. Small fees are charged for most workshops, seminars and courses.
CSBDC assistance is available to anyone interested in starting or expanding a small business who cannot afford the services of a private consultant.

Contact:
John P. O'Connor
CSBDC State Director
(860) 486-4135

Zaiga Antonetti
CSBDC Associate State Director
(860) 241-4908

Dennis Gruell
University of Connecticut
Greater Hartford Campus
1800 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117-2659
Tel. (860) 241-4986
Fax: (860) 241-4907

Source: Connecticut Small Business Development Center brochure.

Connecticut Development Authority

Mission

The Connecticut Development Authority promotes the economic growth of businesses in the state.

Purpose

The Connecticut Development Authority (CDA) seeks to guarantee loans to businesses.

Services

The CDA provides access to capital through the operation of nine principal funds:

Connecticut Works Fund: Loan guarantee program for businesses that cannot get conventional financing.
Growth Fund: Fixed asset and working capital loans to qualified small businesses that create and maintain quality jobs.
Business Assistance Fund: Fixed asset and working capital loans for enterprise zone businesses, small contractors, minority business enterprises, water companies or any business adversely affected by a natural disaster or economic emergency.
Investment Financing: Loans and investments in developing businesses that have future potential to contribute to Connecticut's job growth and economic base.
Urban Fund: Working capital loans to businesses located in target urban centers.
Surety Bond Guarantee: State guarantee of up to 90% of any loss incurred on a bid, performance or payment bond posted for small contractors or subcontractors.
Environmental Assistance Fund: Direct loan and loan guarantee program for projects that reduce hazardous and toxic substances in the manufacturing process.
Naugatuck Valley Fund: Matching funds of up to $200,000 at below market rates for fixed asset and working capital loans to manufacturers or wholesale distributors.
Environmental Clean-up Fund: Loans to small business property owners.

Contact :
Mr. Dietrich
Connecticut Development Authority
845 Brook Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Tel. (860) 258-7800

Source: Connecticut Department of Economic Development brochure and interview with Connecticut Development Authority.

Connecticut Department of Economic Development

Mission

The Connecticut Department of Economic Development seeks to promote the economic welfare of the state.

Purpose

The Connecticut Department of Economic Development (DED) is responsible for attracting businesses to the state as well as encouraging the expansion of existing businesses.

Services

Incentives to foster business expansion by the DED include:

Manufacturers Assistance Act: Provides grants, loans, guarantees and lines of credit of up to 90% of project costs for industrial park development, land, building, machinery and equipment acquisition, building renovation/construction, working capital, research and development and defense diversification.
Manufacturing Property Tax Exemption: 100% personal property tax exemption for four years to manufacturers who purchase or lease new or used machinery and equipment.
Corporate Tax Credit: Corporate business tax credit of up to 25% for up to 7 years for new and expanding Connecticut firms that create a minimum of 1,000 jobs and occupy a minimum of 250,000 square feet.
Flexible Investment Tax Credit: Phases in corporate tax credits of up to 25% for companies that create new investment in research and development, job training or give grants for research and development to state institutions of higher education.

Contact:
Norris V. Bacho
Director
City of Hartford, Economic Development Department
10 Prospect Street, 2nd Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
Tel. (860) 543-8635
Fax: (860) 722-6329

Source: Connecticut Department of Economic Development brochure and interview.

Connecticut Innovations, Inc.

Mission

Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated (CII) is Connecticut's high-technology catalyst, with the primary mission of fostering the development and expansion of job-producing, technology-based businesses and industries in the state. By investing in emerging companies, providing funding for key research development initiatives, encouraging technology transfer and other university/industry relationships, and leveraging resources through public/private partnerships, CII strengthens core competencies, and spurs commercialization of technologies deemed critical to Connecticut's economy.

Purpose

CII's focused set of initiatives is designed to stimulate the development of new technologies, companies and jobs of the future. When following a project, CII strategically directs university research funding and encourages collaboration between technologists and academic researchers. CII then helps Connecticut companies develop these leading-edge ideas into applied technology solutions by providing matching funds necessary for federal support. Finally, businesses that have developed technology can further their commercialization efforts with a CII investment to market or launch the production of a high-tech product.

Services

CII provides seven basic programs of financial assistance to qualifying Connecticut companies and Connecticut colleges and universities:

Product Development Investments: These projects make risk capital investments in emerging and established companies to stimulate their development of high- technology products, processes and services.
Product Marketing Investments: These projects provide working capital financing and equity investments in companies as a source of marketing and launch funding for the introduction of high-technology products, processes and services.
Technology Assistance Center Program: This Program was developed as an information clearinghouse to help Connecticut's firms and individuals interested in starting or growing technology driven enterprises and developing leading edge products and processes.
Connecticut Seed Venture Limited Partnership: This Program invests in start-up and young technology companies in Connecticut to allow them to obtain seed or early stage financing.
Yankee Ingenuity Initiative Grant Program: This Program was developed to encourage high-technology research development and training at Connecticut's colleges and universities.
Connecticut Technology Development Corporation: This Program provides assistance to commercialize research from universities, colleges and industrial laboratories by establishing new businesses around technologies with promising commercial potential.
Connecticut Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Assistance Grant Program: This Program funds marketing activities to help commercialize SBIR projects.

Contact:
Pamela A. Hartley
Director
Small Business Innovations Research Program
Connecticut Innovations, Inc.
40 Cold Spring Road
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Tel. (860) 563-5851
Fax: (860) 563-4877

Source: Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated 1995 Annual Report and interview.

The Connecticut Department of Labor Office of Research

Mission

The Department of Labor mission is to help employees and employers become competitive in the global economy, to protect and promote the interests of the working women and men of Connecticut, and to be a high performance organization, committed to excellence, quality service, and applicant satisfaction.

Purpose

The Connecticut Department of Labor provides licenses and permits, employment training and unemployment compensation services. The Connecticut Department of Labor requires that all firms employing workers in the state register with the Department's Employment Security Division under terms of the state's Unemployment Insurance Law. The Department of Labor Employer Service Unit provides labor-market education, training, support services, labor exchange activities and labor law clarification to businesses.

Services

The Department of Labor offers the following employment/training services:
1. Consulting services available to businesses:

Assessment of employment and training needs
Development of employment and training plan
On site safety and health consultation
Specialized incentives, tax credits and loans
Recruitment and referral assistance
Brokering and case management of employment and training services delivery

2. Reemployment services available at local Job Centers:

Determination of eligibility for unemployment compensation
Development of job search skills
Referral to jobs
Vocational counseling
Assessment of employment and training needs
Determination of eligibility for programs including Dislocated Workers, Job Training Partnership Act, Trade Adjustment Assistance and Veterans Services

3. Apprenticeship programs

4. Automated job matching

5. Customized Job Training (CJT)

6. Dislocated workers

7. Employment search program

8. Federal Bonding Program (FBP)

9. Gate Applicant Master Order Technique (GAMOT): Businesses refer all applicants for specified openings to Job Center offices for initial screening.

10. Job connection: Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA)

11. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) on-site consultation program

12. Rapid response team

13. Shared work program

14. Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA/NAFTA-TAA)

15. Unemployment Compensation (UI)

16. Veterans services

The Office of Research of the Connecticut Department of Labor provides information about jobs and workers and publishes basic statistical data series which are then used to gauge labor market and economic activity in the State.
The Labor Market Information (LMI) is a general reference for labor market information publications available from the Office of Research. LMI is used by business, education, government and individuals. The Office also makes projections of trends in occupational employment opportunities, monitors and reports on agency employment services and unemployment insurance activities, tracks major layoffs and business closings, conducts surveys to identify average wage rates by occupation, maintains demographic information on the population and labor force, and gathers and prepares a variety of other LMI products and reports which serve the needs of various users.

Contact:
Roger Therrien
Director
Connecticut Department of Labor
Office of Research
200 Folly Brook Boulevard
Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114
Tel. (860) 566-5368
Tel. (860) 566-5160 (Information)

Job Center
260 Lafayette Street
P.O. Box 1088
New Britain 06053
Tel. (860) 827-7765
Fax: (860) 827-7065
James P. Butler
Commissioner
Department of Labor
Employer Service Unit
Tel. (860) 827-7870 (New Britain)
Tel. (860) 566-5771 (Hartford)

Source: Connecticut Department of Labor Training Employment Services Information and interview.

Community Accounting Aid & Services, Inc.

Mission

To further the economic development of small businesses, individuals and not-for-profit organizations.

Purpose

Community Accounting Aid & Services, Inc. (CAAS) is a private not-for-profit corporation whose purpose is to provide free accounting and financial counseling to economically disadvantaged businesses and individuals in Connecticut.

Services

Through CAAS, volunteer accounting specialists can assist clients in the following areas:

Education and training in accounting record keeping, internal control and financial management.
Evaluation of a business for possible purchase.
Accounting system and procedures set-up.
Sales, payroll and property tax return preparation.
Preparation of financial statements for internal use.
Preparation of business and individual tax returns.
Provision of volunteers to serve on not-for-profit boards of directors. The CAAS office may be contacted directly to apply for assistance. The criteria for eligibility are:

Small business owners with annual net income not exceeding $25,000.
Individuals with adjusted gross income not exceeding $20,000.
Married couples with adjusted gross income not exceeding $30,000.
Not-for-profit organizations with an annual budget not exceeding $100,000.
Individuals, small business owners and not-for-profit organizations not currently being served by an accountant.

Contact:
Nancy DeAngelis
Executive Director
Community Accounting Aid and Services, Inc.
1800 Asylum Avenue, 4th Floor
West Hartford, CT 06117
Tel. (860) 241-4984
Fax: (860) 241-4907

Source: Community Accounting Aid and Services brochure and interview.

CW Group, Incorporated

Mission

The mission of CW Group, Incorporated is to optimize the ability of its subsidiaries to serve the needs of persons with disabilities and other challenged populations including people with socioeconomic disadvantages so that they may live as integrated, active and productive members of the community.

Purpose

CW Resources, Inc. is a subdivision of the CW Group. Formerly known as Constructive Workshop, the name was changed to CW Resources to reflect more accurately the array of services provided. CW Resources services the needs of adults with psychiatric disabilities (replacing the now defunct affiliate Sunshine Projects), operates a Meals on Wheels Program and provides community, employment and production services. In addition to CW Resources, there is a new small business incubator program, the Connecticut Enterprise Center (CEC), an affiliate of CW Group. CEC serves the needs of small and start-up businesses by nurturing their development and providing the resources to help them survive and grow.

Services

CW Resources, Inc. has two main divisions: Division of Employment and Community Services and Production Division:
1. The Division of Employment and Community Services provides an extensive network of vocational and employment services for persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged. The Centers provide consumers professional services, with the unifying goal of community employment and living. Available services include:

Community supported employment
Individual job placement
Occupational skill training
Situational assessment
Supported living
Vocational evaluation and training
Work experience

The primary purpose of this division is to provide customer service to the employer who hires qualified CW clients, to referring agencies, and to clients to meet their individual needs.
2. The Production Division allows CW to train and evaluate persons with disabilities and other challenged populations while they work. CW contracts with the Federal Government and numerous private businesses in the areas of machining, packaging, mailing, fulfillment and inspection.
Additional services are provided by the Connecticut Enterprise Center, Inc. which nurtures small business development in central Connecticut. CEC is a place where numerous small and start-up businesses operate under one roof with affordable rents, shared services and a business support network aiding beginning companies to survive.

Contact:
[Rotating staff]
CW Group, Inc.
200 Myrtle Street
New Britain, CT 06053
Tel. (860) 229-7700
Fax: (860) 229-6847

Source: CW Group Incorporated 32nd Annual Report and interview.

The Entrepreneurial Center Hartford College for Women

Mission: The mission of the Entrepreneurial Center is to help people achieve financial independence through self-employment.
Purpose: Although the Entrepreneurial Center serves the entire community, low-income individuals are especially encouraged to participate. The Center provides financial and informational support to promote financial independence.
Services: The Center offers Self-Assessment Workshops for prospective business owners and a four-month Comprehensive Training Program for starting up a business.
The Entrepreneurial Center provides access to capital. It has a loan program through People's Bank with a loan guarantee from the Connecticut Development Authority (see page 7 for further information). To be eligible, one must be a graduate of the program and have a complete and viable business plan. The maximum loan is $50,000.
The Entrepreneurial Center provides assistance to new businesses through ongoing consultation, access to small business loans, referrals to other business services, short term professional services and networking groups.

Contact:
[Rotating staff]
The Entrepreneurial Center
Hartford College for Women
50 Elizabeth Street
Hartford, CT 06105-2208
Tel. (860) 768-5681

Source: The Entrepreneurial Center brochure and interview.

Hartford Economic Development Corporation

Mission

The Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCo) is a private, non-profit economic development corporation. HEDCo is a one-stop business assistance center for businesses in Hartford or those wishing to relocate to Hartford and for women owned or minority owned businesses in those towns physically contiguous to Hartford.

Purpose

HEDCo's primary goals are job retention, job creation and increased capital investment in the City of Hartford.

Services

Services provided by HEDCo include:

Technical assistance
Loan packaging
Regulatory assistance
Locational assistance
Problem solving

There is no fee. HEDCo is funded partially by dues from corporate members and from operating earnings on loans packaged for the Greater Hartford Business Development Center, Inc. (GHBDC).
The GHBDC is a private, non-profit, non-stock corporation dedicated to assisting small and medium sized businesses in the City of Hartford. The GHBDC's objectives are the following:

To encourage small business development and growth
To expand employment opportunities
To stimulate neighborhood improvement through economic development
To reduce City aid, general assistance and unemployment while increasing per capita income of residents and private capital investment in the City.

Loans to small business can be provided for the following purposes:

Acquisition and/or renovation of commercial or industrial real estate in which the applicant occupies a significant portion of the available space for the operation of his/her business.
Purchase of machinery and equipment.
Short term working capital loans which have significant collateral.

Contact:
Samuel C. Hamilton
Executive Director
Hartford Economic Development Corporation
15 Lewis Street, Room 204
Hartford, CT 06103-2502
Tel. (860) 527-1301
Fax: (860) 727-9224

Source: Hartford Economic Development Corporation brochure and interview.

New Britain Chamber of Commerce

Mission

To coordinate economic development and to cultivate a pro-business environment within the community.

Purpose

The focus of the Chamber of Commerce is business. To this end, it seeks to strengthen and retain businesses currently in the community and to attract new and dynamic businesses. It makes assets and resources available to restore the city's commercial base. It markets the features and the benefits and promotes the image of a community ripe for investment.

Services

To members the Chamber of Commerce offers numerous benefits. The principal features of membership include:

Insurance: The Chamber offers health insurance to small businesses with as few as one employee at group rates.
Products and Services: Phone service, television advertising, marketing, credit card processing, newsletters are all available at special rates.
Programs and Seminars: The Chamber provides educational programming for members and their employees.
Improving the Business Climate: Through its affiliation with the Municipal Economic Development Agency (MEDA--see below) and the New Britain Downtown District, the Chamber works with municipal departments, financial institutions, Realtors and property owners to make local assets and resources available to its business members.
Business Advocacy: The Chamber serves as a strong business advocate for local businesses. The Chamber will also accompany established and prospective businesses through the governmental regulatory process and testify on their behalf at city building, zoning and planning meetings.
Networking: Various Chamber functions offer opportunities to get connected with the Greater New Britain business community.
Small Business Assistance: The goal of the Municipal Economic Development Agency (MEDA), an affiliate of the Chamber, is to stimulate and to direct the economic development of the City of New Britain through public and private resources. MEDA manages incentive programs, major development programs, and provides technical assistance and assessment visits, as well as small business counseling. It helps businesses remain and expand in New Britain, and works with businesses wishing to relocate to the city.
The Downtown District: The New Britain Downtown District, an affiliate of the Chamber, is a self-taxing Special Services District formed by downtown property owners. Its goal is to promote, to revitalize and to attract new businesses to the central business district.
Business Referral and Information Services: The Chamber distributes member information to individuals seeking particular goods and services.
Community Image: The Chamber strives to enhance the image of New Britain through support of community projects. The Chamber sells the positive features and benefits of the city by promoting its arts and entertainment venues, parks and recreational facilities, educational opportunities, municipal services and world class businesses.

Contact:
Debra J. Ray
Business Assistance Coordinator
Economic Development Division
Tel. (860) 225-5507

New Britain Chamber of Commerce 5
5 West Main Street, 4th Floor
New Britain, CT 06051
Tel. (860) 229-1665
Fax: (860) 223-8341

Source: New Britain Chamber of Commerce brochure and interview.

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)

Mission: To provide business training and counseling assistance to new and prospective business owners.
Purpose: SCORE is a non-profit volunteer association sponsored by the United States Small Business Administration. Male and female business executives share their management and technical expertise with present and prospective small business owners free of charge by providing individual counseling sessions.
Services: SCORE provides individual counseling and workshops. All counseling is done by appointment only. Regularly scheduled workshops are provided at a fee according to location.

Contact:
SCORE
330 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel. (860) 240-4640

Ted Howe/SCORE
Chamber of Commerce
New Britain, CT 06051
Tel. (860) 229-1665

Source: United States Small Business Administration and interview with SCORE.

United States Small Business Administration

Mission

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of the nation.

Purpose

The SBA makes special efforts to help entrepreneurs raise capital and find sales markets, especially those who face unusual difficulties in the private marketplace such as the handicapped, minorities, women and veterans.

Services

The SBA offers a variety of loan programs to eligible small businesses to meet both long and short term credit needs. The bulk of SBA's business loans are made by private lending institutions and are guaranteed by the SBA. The loans are processed through a Certified Development Company (CDC) which is a private, public sector non-profit corporation that is set up to contribute to the economic development of its community.
The SBA's Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) is designed to stimulate investment in small businesses. It provides risk capital in the form of debt and equity financing to small businesses for their growth, modernization or expansion. SBICs, licensed and regulated by the SBA, are privately owned and privately managed investment firms that use their own funds, plus money borrowed with SBA guarantees, to make venture capital investments in small businesses. These are profit-motivated businesses--their incentive for investing in small business is the chance to share in the success as the enterprises grow and prosper.
The SBA assists small business obtain a fair share of government contracts through the functions of the Agency's Procurement Assistance Division.
The SBA Minority Enterprise Development is a Business Development Program created to promote and to assist socially and economically disadvantaged business persons in gaining equal access to the resources necessary to improve their ability to compete on an equal basis in the mainstream of the American economy.
Small and emerging contractors who cannot get surety bonds (bid payment, and/or performance) through regular commercial channels on reasonable terms can apply to a surety company under the SBA Surety Bond Guarantee Program.
The SBA is also on the Internet using uniform resource locators (URLs):

SBA Home Page: http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov/
SBA gopher: gopher://gopher.sbaonline.sba.gov/
File transfer protocol: ftp://ftp.sbaonline.sba.gov/
Telnet: telnet://sbaonline.sba.gov/

Contact:
James Williams
United States Small Business Administration
Hartford District Office
330 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel. (860) 240-4700

Source: United States Small Business Administration brochure.