Rex Development: The Importance of Regionalization

THE POWER OF REGIONALIZATION June 2011

What are CEDS and why do we need them?
Strategies to coordinate and prioritize regional economic development efforts
Primary goals
Create jobs
Address existing economic challenges
Capitalize on economic opportunities
To be eligible for funding opportunities
2011 CEDS update submitted to EDA in June 2011

Current CEDS: Regional Marketing & Communications Objectives
Regional Marketing – Develop during 2008 and ensure its ongoing implementation
Economic Team-Building – create program in 2008 and operate on a continuing basis

Regional Marketing
Marketing website infrastructure complete, continuing to incorporate enhancements
Targeted marketing initiative in process
Implement targeted marketing plan that included rebranding RGP as REX Development, 1 Region, 15 Towns, Unlimited Potential

Education & Team Building Program
Coalition built with local chambers
Joint projects/efforts with local chambers
Engage/educate town economic development commissions
REDFO Meetings

Current CEDS: Transportation Objectives
Tweed New Haven Airport – Increase enplanements to 100,000 and supply service to 3+ hub cities by 2010
Feeder Barge Service – Initiate feeder barge container shipping at Port of New Haven to move cargo by rail
New Haven – Springfield Commuter Rail –Initiate rail line by 2010 with future connection to Bradley Airport
Shoreline East/Metro-North – Increase ridership
Bus Service – Increase ridership

Expand Service at Tweed New Haven Airport
Agreement reached between New Haven & East Haven
Runway safety areas completed
Taxiway B and obstruction removal underway
Recruit new airlines, and routes from existing carrier
Build up business and community support for the airport

Port of New Haven Improvements
Draft strategic plan prepared with near-term port improvements submitted for ARRA consideration
Ongoing meeting with state officials to build political support for New Haven-based feeder barge service

Increase Commuter Rail Service with New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Line
Letters sent to Congressional delegation, Governor, state commissioners & Amtrak
Work with regional organizations along rail line to lobby efforts awarded a planning grant for the New Haven, Hartford and Springfield high speed rail project

Increase Ridership on Shore Line East & Metro North
Shore Line East weekend service implemented
SLE ridership increased by 13-15%
MNR ridership increased by 4-5%
ConnDOT taking delivery of new M-8 rail cars
New MNR trains to State Street Station
Work with New Haven and ConnDOT to implement second garage and TOD at Union Station planning grant awarded

Increase Effectiveness & Ridership of Bus Service
CT Transit ridership in New Haven region increased 5.2%
Purchase of new buses

Ensure Adequate Funding in Region’s Roadways
Q Bridge under construction
$14 million ARRA funding secured to complete all Urban Program projects
Ferry Street Bridge completed
Rt. 1 Amtrak bridge under construction
Housatonic River Bridge project funded

Current CEDS: Business Development Objectives
Regional Business Assistance Program – Develop & maintain business assistance strategy to help existing business grow or remain the region
Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups – Identify & assist prospective companies & entrepreneurs in emerging business sectors to start & grow new business ventures

Business Assistance Program
Marketing assistance seminar sponsored by EDC New Haven

Entrepreneurship & Start-Ups
Yale Entrepreneurial Institute expands summer fellowship into year-round incubator
$16 million in capital raised by YEI companies over past two years
Technology networking events organized by EDC New Haven

Current CEDS: Workforce & Housing Objectives
Incumbent Worker Training – Increase Incumbent Working Training funding to $1,000,000 by 2010
Community Colleges – Meet emerging workforce needs by supporting innovative workforce development efforts at Gateway and Middlesex Community Colleges

Current CEDS: Workforce & Housing Objectives
Workforce Housing – Improve the amount & diversity of workforce housing by offering design and policy resources to the region’s communities to help them address the region’s critical shortage of housing
School-to-Work – Build a coalition of public and private sector partners to engage in discussion of critical school-to-work issues

Increase Funding for Incumbent Worker Training
IWT funding maintained at 90% despite massive deficit

Support Community College Workforce Initiatives
Community College System green jobs training grant ($2 million) - $18,000/yr for 3 yrs each to Gateway and Middlesex
Connected manufacturers to Middlesex College Advanced Manufacturing program

Improve Workforce Housing
Town of Wallingford applied for zoning incentive payment under HomeCT law
Branford and West Haven approved for HomeCT technical assistance grants
New Haven applied/under consideration for HomeCT technical assistance grant

School-to-Work
New Haven school reform initiative – New Haven Promise
Include school to work in discussion of city reform initiative

Current CEDS: Land Use Planning, Policies and Regulations
Brownfields & Predevelopment Fund
Transit-Oriented Development & Smart Growth

Brownfields & Predevelopment Fund
Approved 3 new assessment projects and 1 remediation project
Applied for additional funding
Several projects under review

Transit-Oriented Development & Smart Growth
Town of Hamden adopted Smart Code zoning
Received Sustainable Community Grant
Received Tiger Grant

Moving Forward
All responsible parties review the Action Steps in the CEDS to identify new and existing programs & initiatives that support the CEDS
REX to develop tasks that support Action Steps & Objectives in conjunction with responsible parties
Tasks will incorporate outcome measures within specified timeframe
Build baseline performance measures around goals & objectives

Moving Forward
Build baseline performance measures around goals & objectives
Increase accountability for responsible parties

Funding Requirements
Introduce state legislation that would create a direct funding stream to the region

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Rex Development: The Importance of Regionalization

by Barbara Malmberg on Jul 12, 2011

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