Welcome to It’s Happening. In Hartford! a Hartford Economic Development Commission eBulletin designed to give you a quick look at the most recent achievements within the city’s dynamic and diverse business community. At HEDC, we bring people together to make things happen in Hartford, Conn. By focusing on the city’s many strengths and collaborating with the best resources, HEDC is helping Hartford move ahead.

• · Hartford among Forbes best places for business and careers
• · Weston Square celebrates city’s business climate
• · HEDC hosts tribute to nationally recognized local companies
• · Upper Albany business is catalyst for neighborhood
• · Charter Oak Marketplace plans summer groundbreaking
• · Neighborhood leadership ‘spring training’ kicks off

Hartford among Forbes best places for business and careers

Hartford was named one of the Best Places for Business and Careers by Forbes magazine for the first time since the list was established five years ago. This year, Forbes relied on data supplied by analysts at Economy.com, a West Chester, Pa.-based economic and financial research firm, that studies indicators such as income and job growth, but also features a cost-of-doing-business index, which includes prices of labor, energy, taxes and office space.

Hartford finished 55 out of 150 U.S. cities, gaining especially high marks for educational attainment. Noting that “the talents and experience of people draw ambitious companies” to a city, Forbes paid particular attention to Hartford’s high weighted average of advanced and bachelor’s degrees.

The inclusion on Forbes’ Best Places for Business and Careers list indicates Hartford’s vision is rapidly becoming reality, according to Harry Freeman, HEDC’s executive director. “We are delighted Forbes has recognized what we in Hartford know to be true – this city is a fabulous place in which to live and work,” he said.

For more information on doing business in Hartford, please click here.

Weston Square celebrates city’s positive business climate
The business owners at Weston Square, 92 Weston St., will throw open their doors on Monday, June 9, to welcome in the community for a joint open house that celebrates Hartford’s business climate, their collective and individual successes and the bright future they see ahead at this dynamic location. Festivities are planned throughout the day, including raffles, refreshments and discounts. Harry Freeman, HEDC executive director, will be a featured speaker.

For more information, click here.

HEDC passes resolutions honoring nationally recognized local companies
Four Hartford business owners received resolutions of commendation from HEDC after their businesses were named to Inc. magazine and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s Inner City 100 list. The Inner City 100 recognizes the fastest growing, privately held inner city businesses in the United States. The four Hartford business owners and their companies are:

Jose Reategui, Rego Realty Corporation, a real estate development and management firm, named the 10th fastest growing, privately held inner city business in the U.S. This is Rego Realty’s third year in a row on the Inner City 100.

Charles Whaley, Pertel Communications of New England, Inc., a telecommunications installation company, was named the 22nd fastest growing, privately held inner city business in the U.S.

Salvatore Carraba, Salamander Designs, a manufacturer of home theatre furniture, was named the 40th fastest growing, privately held inner city business in the U.S. This is Salamander’s second consecutive year on the Inner City 100.

Roberto Giansiracusa, GimaSport, a clothing and apparel manufacturer, was named the 64th fastest growing, privately held inner city business in the U.S. This is GimaSport’s second consecutive year on the Inner City 100.

Connecticut’s strong presence on the Inner City 100 is a reflection of strong statewide programs focusing on inner-city economic development. The Connecticut 10, launched in 2000 by the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), is a listing of the top 10 fastest-growing inner-city businesses in the state. For the second year in a row, all 10 Connecticut companies are showcased on the Inner City 100.

For more information on Connecticut’s Inner-City Business Strategy, click here.

Upper Albany business site is “pure class”

What used to be a “Touch of Class” in this Upper Albany neighborhood could now be dubbed “pure class” as a local team of sisters-turned-entrepreneurs work to make their dreams come true. Hortense and Precious Ross own and operate Medical Temp Force, a medical staffing agency they conceived and built from scratch. Until recently, they worked out of the living room of Hortense’s home. But with their phenomenal success, they outgrew the home office and turned to HEDC to help them find a bigger and better location for their business.

A run-down building on Albany Avenue that formerly housed the bar “Touch of Class” turned out to be the ideal location. Hortense purchased the building by paying back taxes, and, with the support of HEDC, the city’s façade program, Fleet Bank and Hartford Economic Development Corporation, she transformed it into a neighborhood showcase. Now other businesses in the neighborhood are sprucing up their buildings too. Hortense says she loves the neighborhood and hopes her success with Medical Temp Force will continue to inspire other potential entrepreneurs in the neighborhood.

Charter Oak Marketplace plans summer groundbreaking

The long-awaited and much anticipated Charter Oak Marketplace, a new retail center on Hartford’s west side, is scheduled to break ground this summer; the bidding process is currently underway for a construction contractor. This major development project will include 350,000 square feet of retail space, including a Wal-Mart and a number of other national and local retailers. This project represents the transformation of a formerly blighted neighborhood into a source of jobs, services and tax revenue for Hartford and its residents.

Neighborhood leadership spring training kicks off in Hartford
Hartford’s innovative Neighborhood Leadership Training Program kicked off its second session with a new class of more than 30 residents representing the city’s diverse neighborhoods.

Program participants will be taught the skills necessary to initiate and direct revitalization efforts in their neighborhoods, including running effective meetings, resolving conflict, working with the media and public speaking. After completing the program, graduates will work with their Neighborhood Revitalization Zones to build stronger communities.

The Neighborhood Leadership Training Program is the result of a unique collaboration between the Hartford Economic Development Commission, Hartford 2000 and Leadership Greater Hartford. It is funded with grants from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, the Travelers Foundation and the United Way.

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