Hosted by: Argonne National Laboratory

Tuesday, December 6, 1:00 p.m. ET

Through support from the Economic Development Administration, Argonne National Laboratory developed the Economic Development Capacity Index (EDCI) as a tool to assist economic development stakeholders by characterizing local economic development capacity across the United States. The EDCI is intended to support the analytical needs of multiple audiences. For communities, Economic Development Districts (EDDs), and other local or regional stakeholders, it provides a data-driven estimation of capacity, including relative strengths and potential areas for growth or maturation across five capacity areas composed of 53 unique indicators. Register here

Ivy Biomedical Systems, a privately-held Branford medical device manufacturer, has received approval to build a research and corporate headquarters building near the town's border with Guilford and North Branford.

Branford's Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans for the roughly 30,000 square foot building at 819-841 East Main St. earlier this month. The principals of the limited liability company that submitted the plans were James Biondi of North Haven, who is listed as president of Ivy Biomedical Systems and Thomas Abbenante of Guilford, who is identified in public documents as a founder of the company, which was launched in 1984. Read More

Governor Ned Lamont announced that he is planning to appoint Alexandra Daum as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) when he begins his second term in office early next year. Daum will succeed David Lehman, who intends to leave state service at the conclusion of the governor’s first term.

“Our administration has an aggressive approach to growing jobs, attracting businesses, and enhancing economic development in Connecticut, and I want the strongest, smartest, and most energetic team possible to lead these efforts on behalf of our state’s residents,” Governor Lamont said. “For the last several years, Alexandra has worked alongside David Lehman as part of the leadership team in Connecticut’s economic development office, which is why I am confident this will be a smooth transition. In addition to being intimately familiar with the functions of this important state agency, Alexandra has existing relationships with many of Connecticut’s leading employers and industry leaders, and she is ready to hit the ground running. I am incredibly grateful to David for the service he has given to our administration and the people of Connecticut over the last four years.”

Daum is currently deputy commissioner and chief investment officer of DECD in a position that she has held since March 2020. In this role, she drives public investment in local economic development projects and initiatives across Connecticut, including greenfield and brownfield real estate developments, public-private partnerships, urban revitalization efforts, offshore wind, and opportunity zones. She also manages Governor Lamont’s community redevelopment initiatives, most notably the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grants, Brownfield Municipal Grants, and the Community Investment Fund 2030. Read More