Long before he was president, Ronald Reagan used to give speeches about the growth of government and its excesses. He likened government to a baby, taking in food (money) at one end and dispensing services (you get the picture) from the other. He also said, “No government program once created ever goes away. In fact, being declared a government bureau is the closest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth.”
In Hartford, we are about to see whether that’s true. Whether a small government agency, which has almost completed its mission, will fade away, or find eternal life.
The Capitol City Economic Development Authority, created in 1998 to oversee a nearly $1 billion state economic development investment in Hartford, is nearing the end of its natural life. The convention center has been built and is up and operating. A number of new housing projects are in various stages of development and even the long delayed Front Street project may begin construction in the fall.
An argument can be made that CCEDA’s job is done and the S.S. Minnow-sized crew there can easily be folded into some larger state agency to carry out the remaining management responsibilities associated with the original CCEDA projects.
There are two other potential paths CCEDA can take. The first would be an expansion of the agency’s management portfolio beyond the convention center to include the Hartford Civic Center and Rentschler Field. An argument can be made that it would make sense to have one state agency managing all three venues with an eye toward better coordination and marketing.
This idea has been floated before. Of the three state agencies with a stake in these three properties (CCEDA, the Connecticut Development Authority and the state Office of Policy and Management), CCEDA currently has the smallest portfolio and is best suited for the role.
A less likely alternative, but one that should be considered, is actually rewarding CCEDA for its strong performance in Hartford, by expanding its responsibilities beyond the city limits.
Performance Record
Whether you are a believer in big bang development, or not, few can dispute that the landscape of Hartford has changed over the last 10 years, in part, because of the huge state investment in the city managed by CCEDA. No one in the private sector would have ever built a convention center, renovated the Civic Center, or constructed new apartments downtown without government subsidy. The proof in that statement lies in the development record of Hartford in the 20 years preceding the first CCEDA-financed project.
In 2007, there are many other potential candidates for large scale state government investment throughout Connecticut. What worked in Hartford can work elsewhere and should be considered.
Three elements are key to the CCEDA model working in other communities: a clear vision that has buy-in from both state and local leaders, a willingness to stay focused on that vision and a willingness of local government to surrender some control in exchange for a large state investment.
Almost every large and medium sized city in the state can use help in the economic development arena. Southeastern Connecticut can use help in diversifying its economy. Someone needs to show leadership on Tweed New Haven Regional and Sikorsky airports. Aand what about an investment in Connecticut’s ports?
CCEDA’s next role does not have to be Hartford or urban-centric. The model of a very small agency, delivering on a very narrow agenda, can have a big impact in any chosen sector of the state’s economy.
A CCEDA fade out would be a victory for proponents of small government. A redefinition of the agency’s mission could pay new dividends where others have failed.n
Dean Pagani is a former gubernatorial advisor. He is V.P. of Public Affairs for Cashman and Katz Integrated Communications in Glastonbury. Pagani worked for CCEDA for 14 months in 2004 and 2005.
