|
|
|
Almanac
|
Business New Haven
10/19/1998
By: BNH
|
Blinded with Science
It's official: Biotechnology is now one of the state's official industry “clusters.” So proclaimed Gov. John G. Rowland October 6 of the formation of a public/private partnership to stimulate the growth of the state's emerging bioscience industry. To advance the industry, the state's Department of Economic & Community Development has joined forces with a newly restructured Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE), whose new board of directors will be headed by Pfizer Central Research President George M. Milne and Neurogen President Harry H. Penner Jr. The partnership will focus on long-term growth strategies, workforce development, the development of real estate for laboratory space and education issues.
From Canada, with Laminate
On October 5, a Canadian firm that manufactures artificial wood laminate announced that it would relocate from Montreal to Shelton. Panolam Industries will move its corporate headquarters to a 12,000-square-foot facility on Progress Drive, from which the 450-employee firm will oversee operations in Ontario, Alberta, Oregon and Georgia. In addition to office space, the Shelton facility will also house state-of-the-art research and testing laboratories.
What's in Store
Despite the widely promulgated view that greater New Haven is “under-stored,” New Haven County in fact is home to more retail establishments per 10,000 population (61.9) than the national average (59.5). However, according to a new report from The Connecticut Economy, that figure does fall below the state average of 64.5 stores per 10,000 population. Statewide, the highest retail concentration is found in New London County, which at 68.6 edges out Fairfield County's 68.5. The lowest concentration of stores, not surprisingly, is found in Tolland (48.0 stores per 10,000) and Windham (56.2) counties. The quarterly UConn publication also reports this month that retail spending takes a smaller share of personal income in Connecticut than in the nation as a whole. In the early and mid-1990s, state residents spent slightly more than 30 percent of their personal income in retail stores, whereas consumers in the nation as a whole spent close to 40 percent. Of course, with the largest per-capita income in the U.S., Connecticut residents have to spend a smaller share of their incomes to buy the same basket of retail goods.
Gatekeepers of Tomorrow
Gateway Community-Technical College this semester has begun offering an associate degree in health information management technology. In doing so the New Haven school becomes the first state institution and only the second college in the state to offer the program. Health information management technologists are in demand in the insurance industry as well as in nursing homes, hospitals, health agencies and research firms. The GCTC program prepares students to abstract and code clinical data, analyze health data, maintain and report medical records for reimbursement, facilities planning, marketing, risk management and research. GCTC has also renamed its Office Administrative Careers program: The new handle for the curriculum is Business Office Technology.
A Scary Thought
The average consumer will spend $81 on Halloween shopping this year, according to the American Express Retail Index. In fact, so popular has the October 31 holiday become that 45 percent of survey respondents report celebrating the holiday on a level that is equal to or greater than New Year's Eve. Nationwide, Halloween is already a $2.5 billion industry, and 85 percent of respondents report that they will spend as much or more this year than last on everything from candy to costumes.
Moo Money
AG- EXPO '98 is coming to the Hartford Armory on October 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exp[o now iin its third year expo was designed to introduce an urban public to the state's agricultural roots and is a great place to pet furry little farm friends. But ithe expo has also become a good place for speciality food producers and distributors to team up with agricultural providers and retailers, looking to benefit on the grown in Connecticut trend.
|
Go FirstGo PreviousGo
NextGo LastGo
to Index
|
|
