To Connecticut businesses big and small: where are you? A small scant of you I met this morning at Connecticut Business Day (if there was more information on this event, I’d link to it). Others are skimming this post and asking, “what is Connecticut Business Day?” Sounds impressive doesn’t it? It’s really less of an event and more like a half day of discussion and stale danish.

I didn’t know Connecticut Business Day existed until I attended a Simsbury Chamber of Commerce event last week. I also didn’t know what to expect. I attended the open session to hear Governor Rell and legislators speak about the top priorities in Connecticut business. Mission accomplished. I also attended with the intention of raising my hand to ask Gov. Rell if any incentives or programs are being discussed to support the growth and unrelocation of mobile and solo entrepreneurs. Oops.

Well, I missed my chance with the governor but I was able to pose the question to Rep. Kevin Witkos (Avon, CT) and we also had a quick chat about coworking. Kevin will be one of our first group88 speakers and seemed jazzed about the idea. I also had a half-second drive-by chat with the ever-effervescent Rep. Rob Simmons, Connecticut’s Business Advocate. I will be taking Rob up on his offer of 15 minutes of his time (your place or his), and hope to get his thoughts on how we can introduce Connecticut to coworking and other new ways that entrepreneurs are doing business.

Walking out of Connecticut Business Day (which, by the way, is from 7:30-noonish, so not so much of a “day”), I felt both inspired to get more involved with the state (did I just say that outloud?) and edgy about possible outcomes from upcoming sessions: either paralyzation of possible incentives or overreaction of useless mandates. Below are a list of action points discussed and WallFly’s review categorized as “Inspired” or “Tired”:

High-tech Corridor – TIRED: Discussion of this state’s wish to be nano-pioneers and the mayor of high-tech is great but what communities are we building for innovators? We have pockets of innovation via Yale, CCAT, UConn, CCSU and others. Resources, programs and seed/investment dollars are available. What we lack is real-world connections and initiatives that move at the pace of business versus government. Government needs to understand the unique mojo of young entrepreneurs. The new mobile, home-based and start-up workforce requires different environments, culture and interaction. Unfortunately, I feel like that by the time government gets it, the trends will have moved on.

Many times today, I heard “You entrepreneurs need to reach out and get involved. Talk to us. Tell us what you need.” All true, we do need to get more invovled. But, to be candid, the Connecticut government needs to work on its rep for newbies to even consider reaching out. If you are new to entrepreneurship, the word on the street is that state government will slow you down and pain up the process of doing business. Is it true? Honestly, I don’t know. The few folks I’ve met in the state are sharp and very helpful. Is the state my first choice when I need help? No. Last summer I presented the idea of coworking to one state-funded org. Discussions were encouraging and there were many Hollywood “yes’s” about the project. But, eight months later, I’m still waiting to hear if they’re going to move forward.

Transportation – INSPIRED: If you’re not trapped under something heavy during the hours of 7a.m. to 6p.m., driving in this state is an issue for you. Gov. Rell gets this. Her recent proposal to split the DOT may or may not be the best answer but at least the discussion will (fingers crossed) lead to a real reorg. As State Senator John McKinney commented, the best solution for transforming the DOT is up for grabs right now but, one thing is for sure: “the answer is not more roads.”

Energy – TIRED: There are no energy-related bills on the table this year. The state is currently implementing and “administering” the building of transmission lines so any other discussions on energy is apparently not a priority. Connecticut has the highest energy costs in the nation. According to State Senator Donald Williams, we pay $300-500 billion in energy costs due to out-of-state purchases and then paying for it all year long. Rep. Larry Cafero told the story of a business who increased prices 75% to cover the cost of his skyrocketing electric bill. He also discussed a recent article in Expansion Management magazine that ranked Connecticut as 50th in attractive business-friendly political climates. How is it possible that energy and cost-reduction measures are NOT a priority?!

Health Plan – INSPIRED & TIRED: Gov. Rell discussed her Charter Oak Plan (insurance for those of us in the gap – i.e., one of this state’s primary workforces) and her distress on this bill (and others) that will “break the bank.” Her original proposal would cost the state $15 million while the current proposal on the table is peaking at $15 billion. Ouch.

Entity Tax Repeal – INSPIRED: Okay, it’s only $250, but for a tax that did nothing except take money out of our pockets, I think we can all be happy to say goodbye to that one.

Overall, Gov. Rell’s message is to be “cautious and realistic” as we bear through this thing that her advisors are afraid to call a recession. I agree with cutting costs, for sure. But being “cautious” doesn’t exactly fit right. Yesterday was the 75th anniversary of FDR’s famous “the only we have to fear is fear itself” first inaugural speech. For those kids out there who have heard the “fear itself” quip many times, he was not talking about Al Queda. He was talking about beating the Great Depression and building a vibrant economy that required action and didn’t bow to self-fulfilling financial doom prophecy. Today it’s true that our economy is built on stilts right now. However, if we don’t move forward and be aggressive and smart, we are sure to fall on our face.

I hope to meet with more legislators to discuss the new business environment. If there is any mandate out there to discuss, it should be the requirement of new businesses to meet with government in some fashion. Talk all you want about inactivity or overactivity in state government, until we all make our Who voices heard to the Hortons at the Legislative Office Building on Capitol Ave., can we really complain about it?