Strategic Plan

Foster a climate for job creation and infrastructure investment.

• Develop a Legislative agenda that retains a primary focus on urging the Legislature to control spending so that the FY ‘12 and FY ‘13 budget remain within the Constitutional spending cap (by January 1st). 
• Include a prioritized list of major capital projects for the Region to be incorporated into the development of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the Region and the Alliance’s Public Policy agenda (by April 30th). 
• Work with the Mayor and the Hartford Delegation to amend the property tax bill to support the City’s efforts to control spending, grow the grand list, and reduce the mill rate from 72.29 to 45 by 2020 (by May 1st).

Retain, develop, recruit, and engage a diverse and talented pool of employees and entrepreneurs.

• Refine and implement the public policy initiative of the HYPE strategic plan during the 2012
  Legislative session, the City’s process for the FY’13 budget, and the 2012 Presidential and
  U.S. Senate elections (by March 31st).
• Establish specific objectives that link the curricula and capacity of the Hartford Consortium
  for Higher Education and the Region’s Public Schools with the talent needs of the Region’s employers (by June 30th).
• Define the permanent structure, strategy, and funding of Graduate Connecticut (by June 30th).

Market the Region and Attract People, Jobs and Capital

• Leverage local media - including online - to deliver key messages
• Enhance website for both information and promotion, including Economic Development upgrades
• Formally engage marketing professionals to enhance local and national impact

Promote the stability and expansion of specific industry sectors with a link to support small business growth.

• In conjunction with DECD and DOI, IFS Cluster to determine how Connecticut should pursue the “captives“ sector, to underscore that Hartford is the Insurance Capital of the World (by June 30th).
• Establish a working group by 1/31/12 that will recommend the goals, structure, funding, and staffing of a health care cluster that demonstrates that the Hartford Region is a center of health care excellence (by June 30th).
• In conjunction with DECD, establish a plan that leverages the Alliance’s entrepreneurial experience (e.g. HYPE awards and Startup Weekend) and the State’s designation of the Region as an “innovation hub” (by June 30th).

Market the Region’s assets to retain and attract businesses.

• 1. Work with DECD to establish a specific Alliance linkage to the State’s marketing plan for the Region (by March 31st).
• Produce quarterly REDF programs that provide Municipal Investors with trends, technical assistance, and investor expertise (by January 31st).
• Work with the Connecticut Airport Authority and the Bradley Development League to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategic plan for Bradley Airport and environs (by December 31st).

Ensure that the Capital City is the dynamic urban core of the Region.

• As part of the i-Quilt Initiative, develop a comprehensive plan for the ownership and management of the XL Center (by June 30th).
• Convene a working group by 1/31/12, in partnership with the City, that will recommend whether to form a real estate development corporation to recruit business and retail tenants for the Central Business District (by June 30th).
• Develop a plan, in partnership with the City, to add 1500 units of new housing in the Central Business District over four years (by June 30th).

Click for here a pdf version of the Strategic Goals