Business and Workforce Opportunity on the Ballot This November

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According to a recent WalletHub report, Connecticut ranks 47th out of 50 states for starting a business. That is not a talking point — it is an alarm bell.

The findings were highlighted locally in a WFSB report and paint a bleak picture that every employer, entrepreneur, and worker in Connecticut already feels on the ground.

Why Connecticut Is Near the Bottom?

WalletHub evaluated all 50 states using real-world business conditions, not political slogans.

Among the factors that it evaluated that are dragging Connecticut down:

• 47th in average growth in the number of small businesses

• 43rd in office space affordability

• 43rd in labor costs

• 35th in availability of human capital

• 43rd in average length of the work week

• 44th in cost of living

• 38th in industry variety

This is not just a cost problem. It is a workforce problem.

The Human Capital Crisis

Availability of human capital should be Connecticut’s strength. We were the state that at one time that dominated the space race and excelled in national defense.

Instead, it is one of our biggest weaknesses.

We do not need an economy built around remote Zoom jobs for New Yorkers in 15 minute cities — effectively turning Connecticut into a sanctuary state for people escaping the consequences of policies they voted for in New York City and Albany.

We need:

• A trained and trainable workforce

• Career pipelines tied to real industries

• Trades, manufacturing, logistics, construction, healthcare, and technology rooted in Connecticut

Shockingly, Connecticut is now worse than New York when it comes to starting a business. That should be unthinkable but given a one-party system it is not a shock. Bad governance starts from our Congressional representatives and Governor and cascades all the way to the local level.

Affordability Is on the Ballot

This November, affordability is on the ballot — and that includes business affordability.

For employers, affordability means:

• The ability to hire local workers at sustainable wages

• Lower operating expenses, including utilities and energy

• Predictable regulatory environments that reward investment instead of punishing it

Instead, Connecticut businesses are being crushed by:

• Sky-high electricity rates - the 3rd Worst in the Nation

• “Public benefit” charges that act like hidden taxes

• Failed green energy mandates, including offshore wind policies that have raised costs without delivering reliability as they could not go online in time and on budget -

  • it was budgeted for 1.5 Billion and now exceeds 6.2 Billion (See Forbes Report)

These policies do not just hurt residents — they bleed employers dry.

A Choice, Not an Accident

Connecticut’s ranking is not accidental. It is the result of years of policy choices that prioritize ideology over outcomes.

It is also not surprising that 9 of the 10 best states for business have Republican Governors. A Republican Governor and A Republican Controlled State Government is Needed in Connecticut this November.

California Rounds Out the Top 10

It is surprising that this Report ranked California in the top 10 which goes to show that as crazy as we think California is, Connecticut is worse.

Call to Action - Business and Opportunity is On the Ballot This November

You cannot tax, regulate, and energy-price your way into prosperity.

If Connecticut wants jobs, growth, and opportunity — not empty storefronts and outbound moving vans — then voters must recognize what is truly at stake.

This November, business is on the ballot.