Rep. Paul Davis: Legislature Makes Job Growth Job One

State Representative Paul Davis (D-117th District) welcomed passage of a comprehensive jobs bill that will boost Connecticut’s ability to grow and retain jobs. 

In addition, the legislature approved the state’s commitment to Jackson Laboratory – an investment that unlocks the potential of thousands of jobs in the field of genomic medicine and the biosciences.

Both measures were approved during the October 26th special session of the General Assembly.

“I am pleased the legislature passed a bipartisan jobs bill,” Davis said. “In addition, the legislature signed off on Jackson Laboratory’s plan to build a $1.1 billion research facility at the UConn Health Center campus.”

Davis pointed out that “on the local level the 117th District, which I represent, is home to Yale University’s 125 acre West Campus which is primarily a scientific research facility. The presence of the Jackson Laboratory in Connecticut and collaboration with Yale, will hopefully act to enhance the development of a new cluster of related businesses and increased job opportunities at industrial sites surrounding the campus.”

The goal of the jobs legislation is to jump-start job creation and foster long-term economic growth. Incentives for small business, cutting red tape, incentives for innovation, economic development tools and workforce development and training are all addressed in the bill.

One of the key components of the legislation is the Small Business Express Package which will make $50 million/year available to small businesses through incentives, grants and loans.

Another vital component is aligning programs at vo-tech schools, community colleges and universities with high demand job needs of employers, including the state’s manufacturing technology companies.

Other components of the jobs bill include:

• Consolidating and increasing the tax credit for new hires

• Incentivizing investments in emerging technology (Angel Investors)

• Building innovation centers in key cities and investing in innovative ventures

• A second “First Five” program

• Cutting the business entity tax

• Streamlining the business permitting process

• Remediating old industrial sites/brownfields

• Establishing an electronic business portal to make it easier for businesses to access state information and resources

• Workforce development, education and training

• Allowing the Airport Authority to designate new Development Zones

• Investments in roads and bridges

• Replenishing the Manufacturing Assistance Act (MAA)

• Main Street commercial centers improvement initiative

• The State of Connecticut will invest $291 million and Jackson Laboratory will raise the balance of $860 million for the project.

According to the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the project is expected to create over 660 positions at Jackson Laboratory in Farmington within 20 years. DECD estimates more than 4,600 bioscience jobs would be generated through spin-off companies, and another 2,000 would be added to local service and area retail stores. The project would yield more than 840 construction jobs as well.

Rep. Davis is an Assistant Majority Leader, Vice Chair of the Environment Committee and serves on the Education and Regulations and Review Committees.