A bill that sought $100 million to boost child care has cut all state money from the plan, instead asking businesses and foundations to pay.
Erica E. Phillips
Erica covers economic development for CT Mirror. Before moving to Connecticut to join the staff she worked in Los Angeles for public radio’s Marketplace and, before that, for the Wall Street Journal's L.A. bureau. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a master’s in journalism from the University of Southern California.
On Balance: The ARPA deadline looms
Erica E. Phillips writes about CT lawmakers’ wrestling with how to spend pandemic relief money and the effects of affordable housing on economic growth.
THC-infused drinks found a loophole in CT cannabis law
Hemp-derived products don’t fall within current regulations. H.B. 5150 would change that — and make other adjustments.
In CT towns and cities, ARPA is funding a downtown revitalization
Many CT municipalities have directed part of their COVID-19 relief funds to breathe new life into hobbled Main Street businesses.
On Balance: The ‘rules of the road’ for AI in CT
Erica E. Phillips writes about the debates among CT lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont over how to regulate artificial intelligence.
Are CT grocery stores ‘price gouging’? AG Tong launches inquiry
Following an FTC report on grocery store profits, Tong’s office is seeking detailed cost and profit information from CT retail grocers.
On Balance: Women’s businesses eclipse men’s
Erica E. Phillips writes about the growth of CT’s women-owned businesses and a decline in the ‘quits rate’ among American workers.
CT gets ‘creative’ with ARPA-funded efforts to expand labor pool
CT’s CareerConneCT program targets groups with historically low participation in the labor force. So far, it’s placed 1,200 people in jobs.
CT lawmakers want $100 million for child care ‘trust fund’
The proposed fund, modeled after a New Mexico initiative, would allow CT to ‘actually do things’ in a Blue Ribbon Panel child care plan.
On Balance: Data centers and power
Erica E. Phillips writes about potential data center development in CT and sports betting amid the NCAA March Madness tournament.
Is CT’s film and TV tax credit program in its final season?
Amid budget constraints, legislative leaders from both parties favor ending the tax credits, but ESPN, NBC and actors are pushing back.
Can CT towns work together? Lamont envisions more sharing
Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed legislation to enable more regional collaboration, helping town leaders work together by sharing services.
On Balance: How transit drives CT’s economy
Erica E. Phillips writes about a new bus route that will service a sprawling CT office park and the redevelopment of blighted former industrial sites.
Legislature seeks data center study; Concerns raised over delays
A proposal to study how data centers affect CT’s electric grid is drawing opposition from some who say it would delay critical development.
On Balance: Why exports matter to CT
Erica E. Phillips writes about the CT General Assembly’s UK-CT Friendship Caucus and potential next steps for CTNext.