Saying they have deep concerns about the economic future of Connecticut, three disparate groups have joined together to organize a first-ever summit. It will bring together business, government, labor, education and social service leaders to brainstorm.
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, and the Connecticut AFL-CIO will host the two-day summit Nov. 12-13 in Westbrook. The Project B.E.S.T. (Bringing Every Stakeholder Together) Summit will be facilitated by Kenya Rutland, a principal of KJR Consulting.
She will work with an expected group of 100-plus Connecticut leaders that will focus on the state’s economic future with an eye toward revenue and governance; education and workforce development; transportation and infrastructure; regional solutions; and, quality of life matters.
All have been addressed before. What makes this summit unique, in most respects, is the organizers who in normal times might not be considered sharing common goals. “Bringing together CCM, CBIA and the CT AFLCIO, Connecticut’s largest labor organization, is unprecedented and will ensure the best policy leaders come to the table for this critical, first-time event,” said Lori Pelletier, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.
A highlight of the two-day session will be an economic snapshot presentation by Robert Triest, vice president and economist with The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Keith Phaneuf of the Connecticut Mirror will deliver the keynote address.
