Business
'kickstart'
explored
DANIELSON — Over two days, State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) brought together dozens of community stakeholders from different towns within northeastern Connecticut to discuss the state’s newest legislation, aimed at amplifying existing assets to kick-start new business development and build a 21st century economy.
The workshops held in Windham and Killingly were an extension of a summit in April at Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson, convened by Senator Flexer.
“It was extremely important to me that we have that initial conversation while the legislation was being written, so that I could make sure it was written in a way that would benefit northeastern Connecticut. We are rethinking the way we invest in businesses and development, because throwing millions and millions of dollars at a single company to keep 100 employees is not what I would consider the best use of our resources,” said Sen. Flexer. “These workshops are critical to making sure our region can be competitive in getting funding to establish and support an ‘innovation economy’ that combines all our region’s assets – from existing businesses and companies, to the college and universities – to grow business and create good paying jobs, right here where we live.”
Senator Flexer authored Senate Bill 1, which became law as part of Public Act 16-3, with her senate colleagues. This critical legislation creates a new initiative for Connecticut “Innovation Places,” concentrated areas where entrepreneurs and innovators have easy access to tech talent, support organizations and research institutions. These dense areas are intended to be highly walkable, transit-connected, and mixed-use in zoning to facilitate interactions among entrepreneurs and innovators across different organizations, and to be conducive to the creation of startup companies. This environment is intended to be attractive not only for entrepreneurs to work in, but also to live in and for recreation, to help the community retain the most in-demand workers.
Communities interested in establishing an Innovation Place are eligible for a state grant to help them conduct a strategic planning process to identify local conditions and build a master plan that identifies the resources and assets in each community (like a hospital, a university, a research firm, or a manufacturer) to create exciting new business opportunities. The program was designed to be publicly supported and privately led, with communities leveraging public funding to generate a larger amount of private investment and business growth.
“I am grateful to Senator Flexer for reaching out to our communities knowing that there was a better way to ‘do business.’ UConn has the development, the faculty and the human resources that will allow us to bring those startups and incubator businesses to our industrial parks, technology parks, downtowns and renovated mills. Economic development has no borders. We cannot think in boundary lines for communities. We all must have a community, state, national and global mentality – and only then will we be able to bring our human resources and financial resources to the state of Connecticut and our local towns,” said Delpha Very, the Town of Putnam’s Economic and Community Development director, who has been extremely active in the regional conversations. “This was a perfect opportunity for northeastern Connecticut’s leadership to participate in a discussion regarding what we know as the best way to move economic development forward. We are truly blessed with an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit, so this opportunity for Innovations Place planning will move us one step forward to success. We have the perfect infrastructure for quality of life, we have business people who have built successful companies on a skillset and vision, and to put all of this energy together in one place would drive economic development and urban renewal in new and creative way.”
The working groups will continue to meet over the next few weeks to identify a strategy and key assets that would be included in an application to CTNext.
Should this plan be approved, the community can receive additional state grants that will help develop business incubators, expanded technology infrastructure, and more.
Putnam
native earns
NCAA Div. III Communications
Award
By Ron P. Coderre
Mark Therrien, Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s assistant sports information director, was recently honored when he was selected as the recipient of the U. S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association NCAA Division III Excellence in Communication Award for track & field. In his first full year as a full-time member of the WPI sports information staff, Therrien almost exclusively handles coverage and social media duties for both men and women at the school.
“Therrien understands that this in not only promoting the hard work of the student-athlete, but is helping promote the program to potential recruits,” said Brian Chabot head Track & Field coach for the Engineers. “He is always seeking out different award programs where our student athlete’s performances in the classroom or on the track and field can be highlighted. He is well deserving of the Excellence in Communications Award.”
Additionally, Therrien has been a fixture at numerous NCAA Championships, including four national title games. He’s also worked various contests for colleges such as Holy Cross, UConn, Brown University, Providence College, Harvard University, Nichols College and Rhode Island College.
The versatile Therrien has served as statistician for the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional, produced tournament notes for the Division I/II/III Men’s Lacrosse Championships and served as a local committee member and ticket manager for the 2011 Division III Field Hockey semifinals and finals. He was also a photography steward for the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship opening rounds in 2010.
Therrien has also found time to be the publicity director for the Worcester Area College Basketball Association (WACBA) for two years. He’s been a major off-field contributor to the East Side American Legion Post #201 baseball team for six years.
A 1999 Putnam High School graduate, Therrien was a freshman in an Algebra I class taught by Jim Bartolomei when he was recruited to be the scorekeeper for the Clipper basketball team. He accepted the position, which coincidentally coincided with coach Tony Falzarano’s 400th coaching victory that eventually has led him to full-time status as assistant sports information director at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Therrien’s route to his current position took a number of twists and turns since graduating from Putnam but each time opportunity knocked the determined 2007 Worcester State University Business grad answered the call. Prior to arriving at WPI, Therrien spent two years in the Sports Information Office at Nichols College in Dudley. He’s also worked at three different colleges, Indiana Institute of Technology, Eastern Connecticut State University and Worcester State University during his academic career. At WSU he received the inaugural Athletics Service award.
The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 963-0000.
Aug. 8
Victor Doucette, 43, Woodside Street, Putnam; breach of peace.
Christopher Doty, 47, Mill Street, Putnam; violation of a restraining order.
Aug. 10
Alexander Corden, 18, Shore Drive, Woodstock; failure to drive right.
Aug. 11
Eric Langley, 32, Dog Hill Road, Dayville; threatening.
Aug. 14
Paige Breton, 28, Curtis Drive, Tolland; speeding.
Clinton Chase, 30, Hartford Pike, Dayville; speeding operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
Rachel Easterly, 47, Jacque Road, Dayville; speeding.
Deanna Gilmore, 30, Van den Noort Street, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear.
Kimberly Murray, 26, Van den Noort Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, interfering with police.
DANIELSON --- A Danielson man was arrested on heroin charges Aug. 11.
Steven Beaudreau, 33, of West Palmer Street, was charged with possession of heroin and possession of heroin with intent.
Troopers assigned to the Troop D Quality of Life Task Force, Troopers from Troop D and the Killingly Resident Troopers Office as well as the Statewide Narcotics Task Force (East Office) executed a narcotics related search and seizure warrant at #66 West Palmer St.
Troopers found numerous bags of heroin pre-packaged for sale, cash, a digital scale and a cell phone, all of which was seized and secured as evidence at Troop D.
Members of the CT State Police are committed to combating drug activity in the “Quiet Corner” and anyone with information regarding the illegal sale of narcotics and /or synthetic marijuana are encouraged to call the Troop D QLTF anonymous Tips Hotline at 860-779-4950 or message the QLTF Facebook page.