2009 Middlesex EXPO Recap

I am very proud of the success that we enjoyed with The Chamber’s Business Expo 2009 event, held last Friday, October 30th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell.  The new format was a big hit with the general public, the Chamber membership and the numerous participant businesses from around our region. This year, we held a one-day event which was more business oriented than ever before.  In addition to the regular showcase—with over 140 participant businesses—we had many great workshops and seminars throughout the day.  These events tackled many of the very important issues surrounding the business community in the state of Connecticut.  We had some of the foremost authorities in the state on these issues as presenters, and they all did a great job. The 2009 Middlesex County Fall Career Fair was a major success that was attended by 30 employers and hundreds of job seekers.  Everyone knows that a strong and vibrant workforce is critical to a real economic recovery so I want to offer a special thanks to the Connecticut Department of Labor and Workforce Alliance of New Haven for their great support of this very important event. Brian Armet and Pamela Luchka, Co-Chairs of the Chamber’s Expo Committee, should also be praised along with all committee members for their great effort in organizing and preparing for this very large-scale event.  Also, I would like to commend Johanna Bond from the Chamber staff for playing such an integral role in the planning and coordination of this event.   Thanks to the Honorable Nancy Johnson, who was the keynote speaker of the morning’s healthcare reform breakfast along with distinguished panelists Tamer Abdelgawad, Eric George, Margaret Flinter, Michael Hudson, Matt Katz, John Leone, and Arthur V. McDowell III, M.D.   Also, big thanks to Pete Gioia from the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and Donald Klepper-Smith from DataCore Partners LLC for presenting at our 2010 Economic Forecast Luncheon and Duane Cashin and Debbie Fay for offering a free seminar on creating a competitive business advantage. Last week, as you all know, a public hearing was held in Middletown regarding the future of the old Rite Aid property on Main Street.  We were at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in Middletown to testify on this situation and we will continue to monitor it as we move forward. Our testimony advocated having DaVita Corporation place its regional headquarters and move the dialysis center from its current downtown location into the old Pelton’s/Rite-Aid building on Main Street.  DaVita is committed to investing in the facility that will serve as an economic generator for the center core, while improving the quality of life for our residents.   We are pleased that the Planning and Zoning Commission agreed with our position and supported the application.  Also, I want to commend Bob Landino and Centerplan Development Corporation for working with city of Middletown and the local business community to put together a great proposal which will be a home run for downtown.  I remain adamant in my support of this project because of the great things that it will bring to Middletown. We also got out on a zoning issue at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting in Westbrook testifying on behalf of a member business.  We testified to have the Cease and Desist Order placed on the Captain Stannard House overturned.  The circumstances surrounding this order are quite confusing.  Since 1993 the Captain Stannard House has been allowed to run a banquet facility in addition to its Bed & Breakfast operation after acquiring the necessary variance. There is a long history of local officials supporting this use until recently.  The Zoning Enforcement Officer who had previously publicly stated that the Captain Stannard House’s banquet use was OK, now changed her mind admittedly without any corroborating information.  This is no way to operate a land use office.   Businesses need predictability and stability in zoning enforcement, not arbitrary decisions.  Failure to lift the Cease and Desist Order is problematic and will negatively impact the economic viability of the property.  The Zoning Board of Appeals did not make a decision on this matter due to the late hour, but we are hopeful that they will side with the Jim and Mary Brewster, owners of the Captain Stannard House, who have run a first-class, fully compliant business. For more information on Chamber seminars or activities, please visit www.middlesexchamber.com or contact Matt Fraulino at (860) 347-6924 or email him at

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