The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) released its Economic Strategic Plan in September, 2009. Rather than a plan, however, it is a thorough description of the Connecticut economy, followed by sixty-six ideas for improving it. Many of the ideas are excellent, but the state cannot act on all of them.
This brief suggests ways in which Connecticut could prioritize and direct its economic development efforts, including:
- Increasing the quality of the state’s education system and closing the achievement gap.
- Taking better advantage of opportunities for interstate collaboration, particularly in expanding transportation and energy infrastructure.
- Focusing more on small businesses.
- Ensuring the state gets the most “bang” for its development buck by strengthening traditional “good governance” protections embedded in its economic development agencies.
The state’s economic development plan confirms that high state taxes are not an impediment to Connecticut’s economic growth.
