Press Releases
12/10/2014
Gov. Malloy Re-Appoints Catherine Smith as Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development
(HARTFORD, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he intends to re-appoint Catherine Smith as Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) when his second term in office begins on January 7, 2015.
"Catherine's knowledge of Connecticut and passion for business is helping our state grow jobs at the businesses that are currently here, attract employers from other states, and encourage the development of new, innovative start-up companies that are making Connecticut their home," Governor Malloy said. "During the last four years, Connecticut has experienced record growth in the private sector of more than 70,000 jobs - the best period of private sector job growth since the 1990s. But we cannot stop there. Catherine has been a fierce advocate on behalf of Connecticut and I am very pleased that she has agreed to continue her work with our state."
"I am delighted to continue to serve Governor Malloy and the State of Connecticut," Commissioner Smith said. "We accomplished a great deal in the Governor's first term, but more remains to be done to ensure more people are employed, we build a great business climate that helps us attract and retain great businesses, and we continue to be among the best states in terms of quality of life."
Commissioner Smith began the position as the head of the state's economic development agency in March 2011 .
During her nearly four years leading the agency, she has had a long list of accomplishments including:
- Designing and successful launching the Small Business Express program - This program, which provides loans and grants to small businesses, has assisted 1,220 companies to date. These companies are expected to create and retain over 17,000 jobs.
- Administering the Job Expansion Tax Credit (JET) Program - Over 1,200 companies are enrolled in this program that provides tax credits for new employees hired, and thousands of new jobs have been created as a result.
- Creating the Manufacturing Innovation Fund - This new $30 million fund will provide loans and grants to support innovation and job growth in Connecticut's advanced manufacturing sector.
- Overseeing the state's still revolutionary brand that is boosting tourism and effectively promoting Connecticut as a great place to do business.
The commissioner worked closely with the Governor on these and other key economic development initiatives, including Bioscience Connecticut, the recruitment of The Jackson Laboratory to the state, the landmark Jobs Bill of 2011, and the historic agreement between the state and United Technologies Corp. that will preserve and strengthen the state's aerospace manufacturing base for years to come.