Category: Local News

State business leaders showcased in the latest “still revolutionary” campaign

(HARTFORD) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced the launch of a new economic development ad campaign, designed to highlight the benefits of doing business in Connecticut. The ad campaign builds on the state’s ongoing Still Revolutionary marketing platform, and gives voice to a range of Connecticut business leaders, who discuss the reasons they have grown their businesses in the state.

“For the last several years, we have worked to create a business climate in this state that grows jobs,” said Governor Malloy. “And everywhere from small businesses on Main Street to major companies, we are seeing results. This new phase of our effort to encourage economic growth makes it clear that Connecticut can be a destination for and home to innovative companies.”

The ads feature leaders from Fortune 100 companies to Main street businesses:

•     Edison Liu, MD, CEO, The Jackson Laboratory

•     Nicole Russo, President, Microboard Processing Inc.

•     Princell Hair, Executive VP, NBC Sports Group

•     Austin McChord, CEO, Datto Inc.

•     Chris Hocevar, President, CIGNA Select

•     Vivian Akuoko, Owner, Evay Cosmetics

The strength of the Connecticut business story has always been found in select key attributes: innovation, location, support and, especially, talent. This spirit strongly comes through in the television advertising campaign, titled “Meet The Job Creators,” which starts airing today.

“The companies and leaders showcased in the ads, and the thousands of others in the state just like them, are the engines that keep Connecticut running,” said Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner, Catherine Smith. “The businesses and the great talent they employ are the real heroes of this story, keeping Connecticut moving forward and creating jobs. We are proud that the state has undertaken a dedicated effort to enable the success of businesses like these through innovative programs and support.”

The campaign will run through June and was created by Adams & Knight, a woman-owned integrated marketing agency in Avon, Conn., in partnership with Content Pictures, a Middletown-based production company. Norwalk-based Media Storm – the second-largest independent media planning and buying shop in the U.S. – handled media placement.

To learn more about the campaign and view the ads, visit www.CTforBusiness.com.

 

“These jobs will provide a structured environment for our youth to learn, and will also help grow our economy and pave a pathway to their future success.” – Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch

 

Bridgeport, Connecticut (May 8, 2014) – At a press conference today, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch joined representatives from businesses and community groups to announce summer job efforts around the city, which collectively will create more than 300 summer jobs for Bridgeport youth. The more than 300 summer jobs will be open to youth in Bridgeport, ranging from ages 14-21.

 

In addition to the announcement, Mayor Finch urged other members of the business community to do their part to help create jobs in Bridgeport this summer.

 

“We want to put people to work right here in Bridgeport, including young adults during the summer months,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “When businesses step up to the plate and provide opportunities for young people, the entire city benefits. These jobs will provide a structured environment for our youth to learn, and will also help grow our economy and pave a pathway to their future success.”

 

Mayor Finch continued: “More than 300 jobs is a great start, but we’re hoping to put even more of our youth to work this summer. We urge other businesses in the community to join us in this effort.”

 

Others in attendance at the press conference included: Bank of America; PSEG; The Workplace; and the Mayor’s Conservation Corps. The City of Bridgeport is partnering with The Workplace Inc., one of five Workforce Development Boards in Connecticut that prepares people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers. That partnership created 270 summer youth jobs this year.

 

These jobs include 50 with the Mayor’s Conservation Corps, a group of young adults who go door-to-door in the city educating homeowners about recycling, energy conservation and savings, storm water management and the importance of planting trees.

 

“For every young person, a job offering decent work can be an important step in their journey toward adulthood and self-reliance. Youth employment programs provide engaging, work-based educational opportunities designed to help youth explore careers, learn new skills, and earn income,” said The WorkPlace President and CEO Joseph Carbone. “The WorkPlace commends Mayor Finch and the city for its support and leadership in facilitating the growth of youth employment opportunities.”

 

And, Wilifred Murphy, Program Director of the Conservation Corps, added: “Young people in the Mayor’s Conservation Corps will be trained in valuable green job skills that help protect our community and preserve the earth. We’re giving each cohort  of students that apply to our program each year a real world perspective while shaping their skills to ensure that we have a stronger workforce and community in place tomorrow.”

 

Also, in partnership with the United Way, Bank of America has committed $7,500 to summer youth job creation, and so far the group has raised $15,000 of the total $50,000 needed to fund 50 summer jobs in total. In addition, Posigen – a solar company that recently moved to Bridgeport – will create 10 summer jobs, and PSEG will create a total of four summer jobs.

 

“Earning a paycheck this summer is important, but more critical are the real-world interpersonal and problem-solving skills these kids will develop,” said Bill Tommins, Bank of America’s Southern Connecticut Market President. “Experiences like these will enable them to better themselves, their families and their communities.”

 

Tom Copus of PSEG added: “PSEG is very happy to be a part of this program. We’re excited to have youth come and learn about energy.”

 

Mayor Finch also noted local businesses can help make a difference in the young people of Bridgeport by donating money, agreeing to hire one young person part-time for the summer or volunteering their time to support the training program. Businesses interested in contributing to the program can contact Tammy Papa at 203-576-7252 or tammy.papa@bridgeportct.gov.

 

The program will be administered by the city’s Office of Youth Services and is a partnership between the City, Bank of America, United Way of Coastal Fairfield County and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).  The City’s Office of Youth Services will manage the effort and has extensive experience in recruiting, training and employing young people.

 

Having had numerous occasions in which to partner with The Workplace, Inc. on the implementation of past summer youth employment programs, the Office of Youth Services is prepared to  accept applications, interview candidates, and match prospective youth with the ideal job.  Interested youth should contact Mary Ray, Teen Training and Employment Specialist at 203-576-7252.

 

The deadline for submitting applications is June 13, 2014.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Brett Broesder at brett.broesder@bridgeportct.gov or call (203) 257-1049.

12:11pm–#Trumbull CT–Police are at Trumbull High School helping school officials locate a missing student.  The student was seen getting off the bus this morning but has not been seen since.  The parents have just arrived on scene.

State Board of Education approves new Turnaround Plans

(HARTFORD, CT)—Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor today announced that five schools will join the Commissioner’s Network, the state’s lead initiative to turn around the most chronically low-performing schools in Connecticut.

The State Board of Education approved applications from John C. Clark School in Hartford, serving prekindergarten-Grade 8; Lincoln-Bassett School in New Haven, serving prekindergarten–Grade 6; Robert J. O’Brien STEM Academy in East Hartford, serving kindergarten–Grade 6; Luis Muñoz Marin School in Bridgeport, serving prekindergarten–Grade 8; and Uncas Elementary School in Norwich, serving kindergarten–Grade 5.

This year, Connecticut is investing more than $15 million in Commissioner’s Network schools. This is the third group to join the network, bringing the total to 16 schools serving nearly 10,000 students.

“By joining the Commissioner’s Network, these schools will receive the additional resources they need to support teachers in their efforts to improve student success and graduate high-achievers,” Governor Malloy said. “Earlier today, we learned that for the first time in Connecticut history, we’ve made substantial progress in narrowing the achievement gap between black and white students – proof that this model works. I commend the Board on today’s action to expand the Network to include an additional five schools.”

Acceptance into the Commissioner’s Network authorizes intensive interventions and enables the supports needed to dramatically improve student achievement through bold, research-based reforms. It qualifies schools for additional flexibility, autonomy, and resources, such as grants and other funding, in exchange for greater accountability. The Commissioner of Education selects schools to participate in the network for three to five years.

“The Turnaround Committees in each of these communities have succeeded in developing plans for boosting academic achievement, strengthening professional development, and improving the culture and climate in their schools,” Commissioner of Education Stefan Pryor said. “We are pleased to welcome these schools into the Commissioner’s Network, and we look forward to the progress they will make in the coming academic years. There are thousands of students struggling to succeed in these schools right now. The plans approved today establish paths to higher performance for these schools and students.”

Among the highlights of the five turnaround plans the schools submitted are new administrative leadership, partnerships with community organizations, reorganization and reconfiguration of school schedules, extended days and year for teachers, and new models for teaching and learning.

The Turnaround Committee for John C. Clark School reached consensus to approve the Turnaround Plan as a foundation for change at Clark School, with the addition of Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) as the Lead Partner for Clark. In this capacity, CREC will be responsible for the management of Clark during the school’s participation in the Network. The specific details of CREC’s duties as Lead Partner will be defined in an agreement between the Hartford Board of Education and CREC.

Lincoln-Bassett, through the redesign process, aspires to serve as an anchor for community revitalization and educational excellence in the Newhallville neighborhood of New Haven. Lincoln-Bassett will strengthen core academics, while providing before- and after-school programming with community partners five days a week.

Robert J. O’Brien STEM Academy is a low-performing school that has made progress in student achievement in mathematics and reading over the past few years. With the Commissioner’s Network, O’Brien aims to accelerate its progress and achieve much greater growth. O’Brien’s turnaround plan includes the expansion of the successful STEM—science, technology, engineering, and mathematics— model to additional grade levels over the next three years.

Luis Muñoz Marin School serves over 900 students and will form a new Lower School and Upper School as a part of its turnaround process. This new and innovative structure will promote differentiation and student engagement. Marin will work with Cooperative Education Services (CES) to provide professional development and academic support aligned to student needs and school goals, and extensive, job-embedded support, coaching, and direction for the Lower and Upper Schools’ leadership teams.

Uncas Elementary School joins Stanton Elementary School as the second school from Norwich to join the Commissioner’s Network. Uncas plans to replicate core components of Stanton’s turnaround model, which has led to improved student outcomes and school climate over the past year-and-a-half. This will include full implementation of a research-based approach to teaching reading and writing called the Literacy Workshop Model and on-the-job professional development and training for teachers.