Schools, low R&D drag on economy

Feb. 20--HARTFORD -- Connecticut's economy is in the top 10 in many important categories, but its potential for growth is threatened by failing inner-city schools and lagging investment in research and development.

That's among the major findings in a new study released to the General Assembly on Tuesday by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc.

While the state is rated third in technology, it's 40th in growth for the industry and is slow in providing technology employment, according to the nonprofit CERC's "Benchmarking Connecticut 2007," a third annual analysis.

"We want to get a sense of how things are changing," said Jeffrey Blodgett, CERC's vice president for research. "If the state is to grow, to continue to prosper, to continue to compete with other states, technological strength is absolutely essential." While initial public offerings and venture-capital endeavors make it fifth nationally, the segment ranks 40th in growth. Similar results were found in other northeastern states.

The state also has fewer private-sector jobs today than back in 1988, while cities have lost about 200,000 manufacturing jobs since 1963.

Robert Santy, president and CEO of CERC, said the loss of manufacturing makes the issue of cleaning brownfields -- environmentally contaminated industrial sites in cities -- even more crucial.

"One of the keys to bringing the cities back is a strong brownfield program," Santy said. Blodgett told the legislative Commerce Committee on Tuesday that the wide gap between city and suburban schools is a crucial link to the state's economic future.

"The disparity between urban and suburban populations is growing and that's crucial to long-term competitiveness," he said.

"It's been dragging us down like an anchor," Sen. Gary Lebeau, D-East Hartford, co-chairman of the committee, said. The committee on Tuesday raised 37 concepts to be drawn up as bills for public hearing and possible action during this short, budget-adjustment session that ends May 7.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell, in a statement from her Capitol office, said Tuesday that the report is a summons to her and lawmakers to continue their economic-development focus.

"This report is encouraging and it emphasizes that Connecticut must focus on growth," Rell said. "If Connecticut is a focal point for innovation, expansion and achievement, job creation and retention will follow."

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