December 22, 2016 EditionEdition

Becoming an 18-hour city is a goal that Hartford can achieve. Significant progress has been made by the public and private sectors to revitalize Hartford's downtown scene and reposition districts that have untapped potential.

“Current interest rates are attractive for borrowers.”

Q&A talks with Robin Gelburd, founding president of FAIR Health, a New York-based nonprofit that aims to advance healthcare cost transparency.

Q&A talks with Elliot Joseph, CEO of Hartford HealthCare.

Q&A talks with Nivea Torres, superintendent of schools of the Connecticut Technical High School System.

There are several issues that will affect Greater Hartford's residential real estate market in 2017. Here is a breakdown of some of them:

Q&A talks with Joanne Berger-Sweeney, president of Trinity College.

Q&A talks with Mark Ojakian, president of the board of regents of the Connecticut State College & Universities system.

Prospects for many credit unions have improved and should continue to do so in 2017, even if interest rates rise at modest levels during the year. The year 2015 ended with, and 2016 is tracking toward, positive member growth for Connecticut credit unions, after five-plus years of sideways movement. Through the second quarter of 2016, over two-thirds of the 107 credit unions in Connecticut have grown assets, a significant improvement from the past few years. Currently, three out of four credit unions have positive return on assets, a 50 percent improvement over 2013.

Q&A talks with Angela Mattie, a Quinnipiac University professor, trustee of St. Mary's Hospital, Yale New Haven Health community council member, and board member of Qualidigm.

Q&A talks with Michael Rauh, president and CEO of Chelsea Groton Bank and chairman of the Connecticut Bankers Association.

The year 2016 has been very active for commercial real estate in Connecticut and throughout the nation. All real estate has been the beneficiary of so many years of stimulus through incredibly low interest rates.