2021 POLICY PRIORITIES Letter from the Chair & President 4
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STAND UP AND SUPPORT CONNECTICUT JOBS 2021 POLICY PRIORITIES Letter from the Chair & President 4 Policy Priorities Workforce Development 7 Urban Renewal 8 Infrastructure Investment 9 CONTENTS Small Business Relief 10 Taxpayer ROI 11 General Assembly Pledges State Senate 13 State House 14 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 3 Trade, utilities, transportation 86% Construction 71% Other services 70% CONNECTICUT Professional services 68% 63% U.S. Leisure & hospitality 63% 56% Manufacturing 63% Education & health services 55% Information 39% Connecticut COVID-19 Jobs Recovery Government (includes casinos) 22% (As of Dec. 2020) Financial activities 11% Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 4 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities ebuilding Connecticut’s That philosophy is reflected by economy in the wake of the CBIA’s 2021 Policy Priorities, R coronavirus pandemic is developed with the collaboration a challenge unlike any the state of residents and employers from LETTER has ever faced. around the state—common sense ideas that provide the revenue to We have an historic opportunity support essential state services FROM THE ahead of us to reimagine while creating a positive climate Connecticut and to leverage this for growing jobs and driving critical opportunity we must dramatically CHAIR & investments in infrastructure and reshape the relationship between our cities. job creators and government. PRESIDENT This year’s priorities form the We need a new way of thinking, framework of our Rebuilding a collaborative approach that Connecticut campaign, which is focuses on promoting and driving supported by a bipartisan group private sector growth. of over 50 state lawmakers and CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 5 a growing coalition of hundreds of equipment, hospital beds, ventilators, businesses and organizations. and other critical medical supplies. These policy ideas will help Companies donated millions of Connecticut employers—particularly dollars and other resources to struggling small businesses— the state’s response efforts. And manage the high costs of navigating Connecticut firms led efforts to Jeff Hubbard COVID-19 restrictions, create and develop, manufacture, and distribute Chair, CBIA Board of Directors retain jobs, and lead the state’s a vaccine. economic recovery and growth for Connecticut’s fighting back—and the benefit of all residents. our workers, innovators, and local Businesses are playing a critical role businesses are leading the way. Chris DiPentima as the state navigates the pandemic. Let’s seize the moment to capitalize President & CEO, CBIA Manufacturers rapidly transformed on the state’s many strengths and not production lines to address the only restore our economy, but make shortage of personal protective it more vibrant and robust than ever. 6 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities POLICY PRIORITIES CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 7 Where does your company currently Workforce Development make its greatest investment? n n Recruiting qualified 3 Tailor workforce development programs Employee training (29%) workers (11%) to prioritize high-value, in-demand EMPLOYEE n n Other (10%) industries—such as aerospace, software TRAINING Property/ facilities (19%) n engineering, medical devices, biopharma, 29% Other capital n assets (9%) and fintech—and focus on defined pathways New technology (17%) for educational and career development n R&D (5%) 3 Streamline the professional licensing process, remove barriers for apprenticeship 55% Both training requirements, and recognize 45% equivalent out-of-state licenses for those 19% moving here to increase workforce strength No difficulty 27% 3 Expand the state’s manufacturing 19% Is it difficult apprenticeship tax credit program Finding only to find and/or 22% to include small manufacturers and retain young workers? repeal the state sales tax on employer 8% Retaining only training programs 5% n 2019 n 2020 Source: CBIA 2020 Survey of Connecticut Businesses 8 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities Urban Renewal 3 Drive much-needed Unemployment investments in our in most of cities and towns Connecticut’s Hartford largest cities is by overhauling 12.9% higher than the Bristol environmental state and national 8.3% East Hartford remediation statutes 10% averages. and regulations, streamlining New Britain CONNECTICUT permitting, cutting Danbury 10.5% 6.2% New London red tape, and Waterbury 12.3% 8% conforming state 11.7% rules with federal Bridgeport New Haven U.S. 12% 9.5% standards Norwalk 6.7% 7.3% Connecticut Cities: Stamford Unemployment Rates 6.8% Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 9 Infrastructure Investment 3 Support a bipartisan in goods are shipped to and from Connecticut each transportation funding plan that $ 306.1B year through the state’s transportation network provides the necessary resources to rebuild and modernize Connecticut’s infrastructure full time jobs in key industry sectors—including while protecting Special manufacturing, retail trade, and wholesale trade—are completely dependent on Connecticut’s Transportation Fund revenues 731,000 transportation system 3 Leverage public-private partnerships to speed planning The condition of the state’s roads and completion of priority 63% costs motorists transportation projects, of Connecticut’s major roads $ a year OR additional infrastructure and highways are in poor or 1.83B mediocre condition while projects such as critical $ per motorist bioscience laboratory space, 706 and revitalize and grow the 62% in additional repairs, accelerated economies of our cities of the state’s bridges are vehicle depreciation, and at least 50 years old increased fuel consumption Source: TRIP 2020 Key Facts About Connecticut’s Surface Transportation System 10 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities Small Business Relief 3 Repeal the 6.35% state +10% sales tax on employment training and safety apparel, 0% More than a third of Dec 9, 2020 including personal protective Connecticut’s small businesses equipment -10% have closed their doors since -36.8% Total January 2020. 3 Restore the pass-through -20% entity tax credit to its original 93%—the 2019 reduction costs -30% small businesses $53 million annually -40% 3 Restore the R&D tax credit Jan 15 Apr 1 Jun 1 Aug 1 Oct 1 Dec 23 to attract entrepreneurs, foster startup businesses, COVID-19’s Jan 20 Apr 15 and promote private First U.S. Stimulus Payments Impact on Small sector investment COVID-19 Case Start Businesses Source: Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 11 Taxpayer ROI 3 Deliver greater value to taxpayers by expanding the use of nonprofit organizations to deliver state services, YOU Connecticut has implementing broad-based a $67.4 billion technology solutions, cutting OWE shortfall for duplicative state functions, meeting its debt and state employee and eliminating overtime and pension and mileage in pension calculations $50,700 retiree healthcare TO PAY OFF CONNECTICUT’S DEBTS liabilities. 3 Restore the long-term financial sustainability of the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund through the adoption of benefit reforms already implemented as best practices by neighboring states Source: Truth in Accounting 2019 Financial State of the States 12 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities The following members of the General Assembly—a bipartisan group representing both major political parties—signed the Rebuilding Connecticut pledge. GENERAL In signing the pledge, they support its package of common sense policies that will help Connecticut employers— particularly struggling small ASSEMBLY businesses—manage the high costs of navigating COVID-19 restrictions, create and retain jobs, and lead the state’s economic recovery and growth PLEDGES for the benefit of all residents. CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities 13 State Senate State Senator Towns Represented Eric Berthel (R-Watertown) Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Middlebury, Oxford, Roxbury, Seymour, Southbury, Washington, Watertown, Woodbury Dan Champagne (R-Vernon) Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Eastford, Ellington, Hampton, Pomfret, Stafford, Tolland, Union, Vernon, Willington, Woodstock Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) Durham, East Haven, North Haven, Wallingford Paul Formica (R-Niantic) Bozrah, East Lyme, Montville, New London, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Salem, Waterford Joan Hartley (D-Waterbury) Middlebury, Naugatuck, Waterbury Norm Needleman (D-Essex) Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, Westbrook Cathy Osten (D-Baltic) Columbia, Franklin, Hebron, Lebanon, Ledyard, Lisbon, Marlborough, Montville, Norwich, Sprague Heather Somers (R-Mystic) Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington, Voluntown Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury, Torrington 14 CBIA 2021 Policy Priorities State House State Representative Towns Represented Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) Danbury, New Fairfield, State Representative Towns Represented New Milford, Sherman Catherine Abercrombie (D-Meriden) Berlin, Meriden Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) Durham, Guilford, North Branford, Wallingford Raghib Allie-Brennan (D-Bethel) Bethel, Danbury, Newtown, Redding Devin Carney (R-Old Lyme) Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Westbrook Mark Anderson (R-Granby) Barkhamsted, Granby, Hartland, New Hartford Jay Case (R-Winsted) Colebrook, Goshen, Torrington, Winchester Harry Arora (R-Greenwich) Greenwich Holly Cheeseman (R-Niantic) East Lyme, Salem Jill Barry (D-Glastonbury) Glastonbury Eleni Kavros DeGraw