HARTFORD RANKS IN TOP THIRD

OF U.S. METRO ECONOMIES

---NEWS RELEASE---

(May 15, 2007)--- Mayor Eddie A. Perez is proud of the hard working people and top-rated companies that make the Hartford region the 33^rd strongest metro economy in the United States.  According to The U.S. Conference of Mayors Council for the New American City, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford metro area also has the top gross metropolitan product (GMP) in the state with $73.8 billion.

Mayor Perez says, “This is a credit to our highly educated and highly talented employees who make our workforce competitive with the world and keep our region a great place to live and raise our families.  This is also a credit to our diverse business community that calls Hartford home, including global giants like United Technologies, Aetna, and Travelers.  We must also pay tribute to the Arts and Entertainment venues for they are a huge cultural draw, making Hartford a choice destination for business and travel and of course, to call home.”

According to the research, which was gathered by Global Insight, from 2000 to 2006, U.S. metro economies have contributed 90.5% or more than $3 trillion of the growth in the nation’s economy.