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February 3, 2020

CT’s biz recruitment arm CERC rebrands as AdvanceCT

Photo | AdvanceCT AdvanceCT CEO Peter Denious.
By Joe Cooper

The Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC), the economic- and market-research affiliate of the Department of Economic and Community Development, says it’s rebranded as AdvanceCT amid the governor’s push to tie the two organizations closer together.

The rebranding comes a year after Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the state DECD and CERC forged a new public-private partnership to make the Rocky Hill-based nonprofit Connecticut’s recruitment arm focused on researching ways to support, retain and recruit businesses to the area.

Officials on Monday said the rebranding is part of Lamont’s effort to beef up collaboration between DECD and AdvanceCT.

“At the outset of his administration Governor Lamont made it clear he wanted a new economic development model for the state, one that at its core included a stronger partnership between DECD and CERC,” said DECD Commissioner David Lehman. “Today’s announcements are the latest examples of the progress being made to reshape the organization and boost its business recruitment and retention capabilities.”

Also Monday, AdvanceCT named David Campbell its vice president of business development. State officials say the Connecticut native has 17 years of economic development, international business and policy experience after serving several stints with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Our new name and the addition of David Campbell to the AdvanceCT team furthers our new mission to be where business, government and the nonprofit sectors come together to implement high impact and inclusive economic development solutions with a particular focus on business engagement, retention and recruitment,” AdvanceCT CEO Peter Denious said.

AdvanceCT is led by Denious, a former investment banker, and co-chairs James Smith, the former CEO of Webster Bank, and Indra Nooyi, ex-Pepsico CEO.

CERC and DECD are working together on a new economic-development plan for the state that will be revealed in the coming months. It will focus on industries key to the state’s future growth and rest on four pillars: transportation, talent, fiscal stability and placemaking, or creating a clear path to growing jobs in cities.

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