Proposed Power Plant is an Economic Winner According to New UConn Study

Posted on by Claire Hall

A proposed power plant in Oxford, Conn. would create both an enormous number of jobs and tremendous economic benefits for the area, according to a UConn study released on Jan. 13.

The report, created by the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis (CCEA) at UConn, estimates the construction of the power plant would create more than 2,300 construction jobs and 1,800 sustained jobs. Furthermore, the proposed CPV Towantic Energy Center would generate almost $8 billion in new personal income for Connecticut residents over the next 25 years.

The study was commissioned by Competitive Power Ventures, the Maryland company that wants to build the plant on 26 acres adjacent to Waterbury-Oxford Airport.

“This project delivers dramatic economic benefits that will reverberate throughout Connecticut’s economy, both now and for decades to come,’’ said Fred Carstensen, CCEA Director. The plant would  boost Connecticut’s economic health and competitiveness, he said.

The plan has met with resistance from neighbors both in Oxford and adjacent towns, who have expressed concerns about the environment, health and decreased property values.  The Federal Aviation Association has also raised concerns because of the proposed plant’s proximity to the regional airport.

Meanwhile, the proposal has won the backing of some chambers of commerce, building trade professionals and Oxford First Selectman George Temple, who said he has already received inquiries from people who are interested in creating new businesses in town if the power plant is approved. The plant would also generate more affordable electricity for Connecticut residents.

The power plant was originally proposed and approved 15 years ago, but CPV is seeking to modify the application to build a larger facility. The Connecticut Siting Council agreed to review the application. Additional public hearings are pending.

The CCEA is located within the UConn School of Business and specializes in economic impact and policy analysis studies as well as advising clients regarding business strategy, market analysis and related topics. The CCEA focuses attention on the economic and business dynamics of Connecticut. Created in 1992, the organization serves the state by providing timely and reliable information to equip the public, decision makers and stakeholders with transparent analysis to facilitate thoughtful debate of public policy issues.

Strategic Alliance Analysis: Special Olympics

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

2015-01-16_specialolympics400x155This article was written by John Schumacher and originally appeared on the UConn Sport Management Program website.

This past summer, members of the UConn Sport Management program (Michael Mudrick, doctoral student, Raymond Cotrufo ’14 Ph.D., and Laura Burton, associate professor) partnered with the UConn School of Business SCOPE program (Sustainable Community Outreach and Public Engagement) and the Special Olympics for a project involving an examination of strategic alliances.

Through an extensive analysis, the research team discovered opportunities for the Special Olympics to achieve several goals as ancillary benefits from the procurement and continuance of successful partnerships. These goals included: augmented awareness of the Special Olympics brand, program relationship building, and additional participation opportunities for its athletes.

On September 30, 2014, the research team presented results of the project to Jon-Paul St. Germain, senior director of Unified Sports and Sport Partnerships and Aldis Berzin, senior director of sport of Special Olympics and SCOPE program director, Wynd Harris, with a best practices guide toward strategic alliance success. In addition, the research team proposed an application model to be utilized for analyses of partnership benefits and value.

The Special Olympics partnership with SCOPE is funded by an donation from UConn alumnus David A. Gang ’81, CEO and co-founder of Perfect Sense Digital, LLC, and his wife, Charmaine Gang.

MSBAPM Program Recognized Among Top in Nation

Posted on by Michael Deotte

The School of Business’ Master of Science in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) has been recognized as one of the top in the nation by The Financial Engineer.net

The UConn program ranked number 11, putting it in the company of other prestigious colleges, including New York University, University of Southern California, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Fordham and Villanova universities.

In selecting the top colleges and universities, the staff at The Financial Engineer.net evaluated undergraduate GPA, scores on GMAT exams, acceptance rates, average starting salaries and bonuses for recent graduates and the rate of employment both at graduation and within three months afterward.

“Our program seeks high-caliber, motivated students who, after completing their degrees, continue to achieve great accomplishments as our alumni,” said Professor Jose Cruz, who serves as the program director. “We owe a debt of gratitude to our dedicated faculty and staff who work tirelessly to maintain and enhance the quality of our program.”

National Association of Realtors ACE Awards

Posted on by Melissa Ferrigno

Each year the National Association of Realtors (NAR) honors accomplished REALTORS® in commercial real estate by celebrating their individual achievements with ACE awards. Honorees have received awards from their local association, state association, community organizations or brokerages, making them eligible to be nominated for this NAR recognition.

The Connecticut Commercial Real Estate Alliance together with the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors received an honorable mention in the Education/Professionalism category for their collaborative work on the Connecticut Commercial Real Estate Conference held on Oct. 2, 2014 in partnership with the University of Connecticut Center for Real Estate.