ALL EYES ON HARTFORD:

MAYOR PEREZ HIGHLIGHTS JOBS, GOOD CORPORATE NEIGHBORS, INTERNATIONAL ART, AND DOWNTOWN LIVING

--NEWS ADVISORY FOR MAY 24^TH---

9:00 a.m.--- Mayor Eddie A. Perez will welcome members of the Connecticut Minority Supplier Development Council to a construction exhibition. So far, $48 million has been set-aside for Minority-Women Business Enterprises in Hartford as part of the city’s school construction and renovation project.  Mayor Perez will tout how the construction plan is an investment in education, jobs, and diversity.  The event takes place at Northeast Utilities Headquarters, Berlin Turnpike, in Berlin.

1:00 p.m.--- Mayor Perez helps tee-up all the excitement regarding the first annual Travelers Championship!  Central Row will be temporarily renamed Champions Row and Columbus Blvd will become Champions Blvd!  The golf tournament will be held at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell from June 18^th-24^th.  Hartford charities are a huge beneficiary of all the great volunteer work and fundraising done by the Hartford Jaycees.  This press availability will be held at The Old State House in Downtown Hartford.

2:30 p.m.--- Mayor Perez welcomes the internationally acclaimed art exhibition “COEXISTENCE” to the Capital City.  The Mayor, who serves as honorary committee co-chair, will thank the hosts of this spectacular event:  The Hartford Financial Services Group and the Asylum Hill neighborhood.  Asylum Avenue, between Cogswell and Sumner Streets, will be temporarily renamed “Coexistence Avenue.”   Mayor Perez will talk about how Hartford is now on the world map, for this display of the universal message of diversity and acceptance has already traveled to Jerusalem, Vienna, and Sarajevo, to name just a few cities.  The unveiling will take place at the corner of Asylum and Cogswell--- 690 Asylum Avenue--- the World Headquarters of the Hartford Financial Services Group.

6:00 p.m.--- Mayor Perez says Downtown Hartford is more vibrant thanks to more feet on the street.  He is pleased to take part in the Grand Opening Block Party of the Main and Temple Lofts and Townhouses.  These are among the more than 2100 new units of housing built in the city since 2002.  The celebration takes place on Temple Street in Downtown Hartford.