Lamont Pushes Innovation

From Ned Lamont

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Ned Lamont, Democratic nominee for governor, published an op-ed on Medium today detailing his success as a businessman and his plan to launch a Business Advisory Council to aggressively pursue bringing new businesses and jobs to Connecticut.

In September, Lamont released his five-part jobs plan that focuses on creating good-paying Connecticut jobs for Connecticut workers by increasing access to and quality of job training, reducing tax and regulatory burdens on businesses, investing in tourism and sparking an urban renaissance.

Before running for governor, Lamont convinced Infosys to open a technology and innovation hub that will create 1,000 new jobs here in Connecticut.

Lamont op-ed:
To fix our budget crisis and ensure a more hopeful future for Connecticut, we need a governor who knows how to create jobs and drive growth.

That’s exactly why I’m in this race. I know what businesses need to succeed. I know the challenges and opportunities they face on a daily basis because I started and ran a business in Connecticut.

My Republican opponent Bob Stefanowski’s plan to eliminate more than half the state’s revenue stream would stifle economic growth, end services that support work training and job growth, and cut funds for education and healthcare, which the middle class relies on. Last week, I announced what will be one of my first priorities as governor: the launch of a Business Advisory Council to aggressively pursue bringing new businesses and jobs to our state. Joined by a panel of diverse leaders, including PepsiCo chairwoman Indra Nooyi, I outlined my plan to convene businesses across Connecticut. Working hand-in-hand with higher education, arts and culture, and real estate sectors, we can show new companies why our state is the right place to do business.

After 20 years of retreating into our partisan corners, we need to show the business community that we are a united front.

When global IT leader Infosys opted to establish its new headquarters in Connecticut–creating 1,000 Connecticut jobs for Connecticut workers–they didn’t do so by chance. They chose Connecticut after I convened a group of business leaders from Travelers, Hartford HealthCare and Stanley Black and Decker to show them the strengths and the depth of Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem. Leaders at Infosys were blown away by our show of solidarity and support–and by the talent pool our state has to offer.

Just last month, Infosys announced even more big news: the company will launch a trailblazing new effort with Trinity College in Hartford to grow Connecticut’s talent pool. As part of this program, Infosys will hire Trinity graduates while developing new internships and continued learning experiences. It’s a perfect example of the kind of partnership between Connecticut’s business, state, and higher education institutions that will jumpstart our economy.

Starting with the establishment of the Business Advisory Council, I’ll be a governor who champions business in Connecticut, investing in fast-growing sectors–like tech–and promoting training programs and boot-camps that bolster our talent pipeline. I’ll also cut taxes and red tape, and reduce regulations to make it easier, not harder, for Connecticut businesses to succeed.

Connecticut already has top-notch universities, incredibly talented workers, proximity to Boston and New York, and leading industry clusters in insurance, biotech, financial technology, and defense. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be home to the next Silicon Valley, Research Triangle, or Route 128 corridor.

All we need is a leader who believes in Connecticut’s boundless potential–and a leader who will bring people together–to unleash a new wave of innovation and move our state into the future.