New Alliance Bodes Well for Greater Hartford

by Jeff Davis

Thanks to an unusual partnership between the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving (HFPG) and the MetroHartford Alliance (MHA), a new regional economic development strategy has been developed with the hope of increasing job growth, while also decreasing racial and economic disparities in the Hartford region. 

Many of the ideas in the new plan have been seen before. What is different is the explicit coordination between MHA and CRCOG on issues of workforce development and business retention and growth. 

An idea that has been around a while is the creation of a "regional funding district” to pay for quality-of-life and infrastructure improvements. Hartford, like its peer central cities of all sizes around the country, has a disproportionate siting of regional attractions, like stadiums, museums and the like. But it is also landlocked by its boundaries from raising funds to pay for the attractions and infrastructure demands that go with them.

Helping to form these strategies was HFPG head, Jay Williams, who comes to Hartford with significant local and federal governing experience.

Let’s hope this is an important step forward. Check out this story:  https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/greater-hartfords-new-economic-plan-contrasts-ambitious-vision-with-stark-challenges