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CBIA BizCast

CBIA BizCast

Written by: Connecticut Business & Industry Association
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 A podcast for the business-minded in Connecticut. Interviews consist of business and community leaders who are shaping the future of Connecticut’s economy. The CBIA BizCast provides new content every other week, introduces members of the business community, and tells stories about how businesses are innovating and growing in Connecticut! BizCast provides new content every other week, introduces members of CBIA staff, and tells stories about how businesses are innovating and growing in Connecticut!All rights reserved Economics
Episodes
  • Setback for Small Business Healthcare

    Setback for Small Business Healthcare
    Apr 16 2026
    Health care affordability, Connecticut’s economy, and workforce development are front and center on this episode of CBIA BizCast. CBIA Policy Director Grace Brangwynne joins host Amanda Marlow to discuss the defeat of legislation allowing small businesses to form association health plans. Association Health Plans allow small businesses to come together, pool their risk, and purchase affordable, high quality health insurance through a trade association or local chamber of commerce. Marlow was also joined by CBIA Foundation director Dustin Nord to break down new economic data and highlight the foundation’s newly released Connecticut Workforce & Education Strategy Blueprint. The episode also features a portion of a conversation between Nord, former U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Electric Boat’s Willie Barber, and Economic Leadership’s Kat Saunders highlighting the blueprint. And the episode highlights a recent news conference on a push to expand the R&D tax credit to pass-through entities at Burke Aerospace. The event included Gov. Ned Lamont, Burke president and CEO Brittany Isherwood, DECD commissioner Dan O’Keefe, and CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima. Episode Highlights Small Business Healthcare • What are Association Health Plans? • Why did the legislation fail? • What’s next for small businesses and their employees? Economic Update • Connecticut added 5,300 jobs in January • Connecticut’s economy expanded 2.4% in 2025—12th fastest in the country Workforce Blueprint • Release of CBIA Foundation’s Connecticut Workforce & Education Strategy Blueprint • Panel discussion on strengthening high school-to-career pathways, aligning education and industry needs, and overcoming fragmentation in Connecticut’s workforce system • Panelists include: o Miguel Cardona, former U.S. Secretary of Education o Willie Barber, Electric Boat o Kat Saunders, Economic Leadership R&D Tax Credit for Small Business • News conference highlighted efforts to expands Connecticut’s R&D tax credit to pass-through entities • 6% credit helps small firms invest in innovation and jobs • Supports small business growth in Connecticut The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate the podcast and leave us a review—we appreciate your support! And be sure to give us your feedback and share guests you’d like to hear from by emailing bizcast@cbia.com.
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    23 mins
  • CBIA BizCast: Tourism, Energy Bill Advances

    CBIA BizCast: Tourism, Energy Bill Advances
    Apr 2 2026
    Connecticut lawmakers continue to grapple with affordability challenges facing small businesses—and energy costs are a major focus this legislative session. In this episode of the CBIA BizCast, host Amanda Marlow highlights proposed legislation aimed at reducing energy costs, along with key business and policy developments from across the state. Small business owners, lawmakers, and business organizations are calling attention to Senate Bill 2—a democrat priority bill that supports local tourism and cut the state sales tax on energy for many small businesses. The bill passed out of the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee on a bipartisan vote. The episode also features a portion of a conversation between some of Connecticut’s top women in healthcare from CBIA’s When Women Lead conference, which brought nearly 800 attendees to Hartford last month. Episode Highlights—SB 2 - CBIA VP of public policy Chris Davis breaks down the sales tax exemption on energy - CBIA senior policy director Pete Myers testimony before the Finance Committee - Business leaders, lawmakers, business owners, and advocates speak at a news conference in support of SB 2’s tourism provision. Speakers include: - Bruce Becker, Hotel Marcel - First Selectman Carl Fortuna, Old Saybrook - Aubrey LaMonica, Eli Cannon’s and Tate’s restaurants - Sen. Cathy Osten, (D-Baltic) - Scott Dolch, Connecticut Restaurant and Hospitality Association - Rep. David Rutigliano, (R-Trumbull) - Mayor Shari Cantor, (D-West Hartford) - Joe Delong, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities - Rep. Farley Santos (D-Danbury) Headlines You May Have Missed - Small Business Award: West Hartford-based Derek Ezovski, president of Outsourced Risk Management Solutions, has been named Connecticut’s 2026 Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. - Electric Boat Expansion: General Dynamics Electric Boat plans to hire 8,000 workers across Connecticut and Rhode Island as part of historic growth and investment. - Trade Impacts: New federal data show exports grew just 1.9% in 2025, while imports surged ahead of newly imposed tariffs. Episode Highlights—When Women Lead - Resilience and navigating challenges - Advocating for women in the healthcare industry - Advice for women in leadership The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate the podcast and leave us a review—we appreciate your support! And be sure to give us your feedback and share guests you’d like to hear from by emailing bizcast@cbia.com.
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    21 mins
  • Legislative Leaders Discuss Key Session Issues

    Legislative Leaders Discuss Key Session Issues
    Mar 19 2026
    In this episode of the CBIA BizCast, we bring you a portion of the March 18 conversation between Senate President Martin Looney (D-New Haven), Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield), House Speaker Matt Ritter (D-Hartford), and House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) at Connecticut Business Day 2026. The legislative leaders talked with Crown Castle’s Meg Glander to discuss their legislative goals for the remainder of the session. Also this episode, Amanda Marlow sits down with Hartford Business Journal editor Greg Bordonaro. Bordonaro breaks down some of the state’s key economic issues, the top storylines this legislative session, and the HBJ’s role in informing Connecticut’s business community Episode Highlights and Topics Legislative Panel • Healthcare costs • Energy and gas costs • Workforce development Hartford Business Journal • Economic uncertainty • Cost concerns • HBJ’s role as a voice for businesses Headlines You May Have Missed • Association Health Plan legislation advances • Lawmakers discuss expanding R&D tax credits for small businesses • Release-based cleanup regulations officially take effect • Proposals aim to align education system with workforce needs The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate the podcast and leave us a review—we appreciate your support! And be sure to give us your feedback and share guests you’d like to hear from by emailing bizcast@cbia.com.
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    25 mins
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