REDFO presentation on 20x17 on 12/19/14

2. What is CT20x17?
Businesses, community
organizations, government &
individuals coming together to
boost Connecticut’s
competitiveness
by improving work and life.

3. CT20x17 Leadership & Partners
 Steering Committee
 10 Working Groups
 Business Organizations
 Community Organizations
 Businesses Across the State
 Connecticut Residents

4. Why CT20x17?
• State at an economic crossroads
• Lagging in regional, national economic
recoveries
• Some progress in talent development,
infrastructure, technology, regulatory reform
• National reports consistently rank our
business climate at the bottom
• Our businesses and residents are leaving
No longer acceptable!!

7. We Need to
Pay Attention.
We Can No Longer
Ignore the Numbers.

9. Residents Top Issues

11. CT 20x17 Working Groups
 State Spending & Taxes
Budget & taxes, financial discipline, long-term debt & liabilities,
debt per capita, credit ratings, govt. streamlining, reform, efficiency
 Business Costs
Labor (wages & benefits), healthcare, energy, real estate,
workplace mandates
 Transportation & Infrastructure
Capacity, usage, condition; options available; energy supply reliability
& diversity; internet connectivity
 Economy
Levels of employment/unemployment, income, state GDP,
exports, housing, growth prospects

12. CT 20x17 Working Groups (continued)
 Regulatory Environment
Business friendliness, balance of environmental,
business interests; regulatory, legal & liability climates;
workplace mandates
 Workforce
Public education, higher education, achievement gap,
job training & retraining programs; talent availability
 Technology & Innovation
Entrepreneurship, business incubation, financial
support, research & development, patents

13. CT20x17 Key Priorities
 Talent
• Fully implement state education reforms
• Better leverage investments in public higher education
• Stronger links between college curriculum and workforce needs
to address skills gap
 Fiscal Issues
• Focus on lean government operations
• Reduce long-term debt
• Create more competitive tax structure
• Establish ROI measurements for projects
 Transportation
• Identify & accelerate priority infrastructure investments
• Protect Special Transportation Fund
• Invest in CT Railway infrastructure (lines, hubs & parking)

14.  Business Costs
• Lower energy costs, improve capacity & efficiency,
seek diverse portfolio of fuel sources
• Reject unnecessary mandates; measure business impact
• Eliminate sales tax on business services
 Red Tape
• Expand efficiency practices to all government agencies
• Follow through on comprehensive regulatory reforms and
provide online updates on the state website
• Develop and promote a business-friendly attitude
CT20x17 Key Priorities

15. CT20x17 Outreach & Engagement
 February-July, 2014
• Print, radio, outdoor, digital advertising
• Business, community, media outreach
• Social media
 August-November, 2014 (election focus)
• Outdoor, radio, print, digital
• Business, community, media outreach
• Social media
• Direct mail
• Grassroots
• Legislative forums
• Debate sponsorships

16. Interstate Billboards – Rt. 91 & 84

17. Metro North Platform Advertising

18. Business Banners & Signage

20. Social Media

21. Subscribe to the
CT20x17 Newsletter

22. CT20x17 Outcomes
 70 organizations have signed onto the campaign
 Lots of interest across the state, including state
agencies, DECD and Governor’s office
 More than 100 meetings with candidates and
newly elected legislators at company locations
 Businesses are energized and want to do
something to help

23. CT20x17 Next Steps
 Finalize recommendations & strengths
 CT20x17 launch with legislators in mid-January
 Next phase of public awareness campaign
 Statewide job fair in June 2015
 Issue progress reports throughout session on
recommendations
 Conduct speaking engagements across state
 Talk It Up!!! Tweet…Post…Like…Share…