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HARTFORD, Connecticut – On Wednesday afternoon, Connecticut’s Investment Advisory Council (IAC) convened their first meeting of 2024 at the State Office Building in Hartford. State Treasurer Erick Russell opened the meeting by announcing more than $1.1 billion in investment commitments in the private credit and real estate portfolios of the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds (CRPTF).
In private credit, the Treasurer committed $125 million to ICG North America Credit Partners Fund III LP and $200 million to ICG Liquid Credit Strategies, including ICG Global Loan Fund and ICG Global Total Credit Fund.
Treasurer Russell also announced two European credit investment commitments. He will direct €150 million to ICG Europe Mid-Market Fund II SCSp and €150 million to a customized co-investment program. This equates to approximately $328 million total, at the current exchange rate.
In the state’s real estate portfolio, Treasurer Russell announced his decision to commit $125 million to Penzance DC Real Estate Fund III LP, $200 million to Stonepeak Infrastructure Fund V LP, and $125 million to Homestead Capital USA Farmland Fund IV, LP.
These investment decisions were based on input and feedback the Treasurer received during the November 2023 meeting of the IAC.
“I’m pleased to kick off 2024 with this slate of investment commitments,” said Treasurer Russell. “These European opportunities, in particular, represent prudent diversification of our private credit portfolio. I’m grateful to the IAC for their collaboration and input in these decisions.”
Also in Wednesday’s meeting, the IAC received several updates from the Treasurer’s investment team. These included an update on Global Equity positioning and outlook, the currency overlay strategy for the Public Markets, a review of the Short-Term Investment Fund (STIF), and a presentation of the CRPTF rebalancing process.
Additionally, Principal Investment Officers Mark Evans and Denise Stake provided an overview of the recommended pacing plans for the Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate, and Infrastructure/Natural Resource Asset Classes.
The IAC is comprised of volunteer members who are responsible for providing advice to the State Treasurer on performance benchmarks, investment and shareholder policy, and institutional investment procedures for the CRPTF. It includes both ex-officio members and members who are appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. To learn more about the IAC, visit portal.ct.gov/OTT/About-the-Treasury/Advisory-Council.
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Governor Ned Lamont today announced the establishment of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences, which seeks to grow Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy by creating partnerships with the private sector. Coinciding with establishing this new office, DEEP is launching a request for information (RFI) as an initial step to expand services and amenities in state parks through partnerships with businesses, nonprofits, and other private sector entities.
The first task for this new office will be to facilitate the RFI process to establish partnerships with organizations that share our values for both conservation and outdoor recreation, and ultimately result in enhanced outdoor experiences in state parks.
Governor Lamont and DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes made the announcement at the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area in West Cornwall, a family-operated outdoor recreation business currently operating through a partnership with Connecticut State Parks.
“Connecticut’s state parks are among the best in the country and provide the setting for many memorable outdoor recreation experiences,” Governor Lamont said. “Our private partners help facilitate those experiences, whether it be a great day of skiing at Mohawk, tubing with family and friends on the Farmington River, or taking a ride on the Essex Steam Train. There are so many wonderful ways to experience the outdoors in our state, and with this new office and RFI, we look forward to discovering new ways to play in the outdoors in our beautiful state.”
Demand for outdoor recreation has spiked since the COVID-10 pandemic, with state park visitation increasing from just under 10 million in 2019, to an estimated 17 million in 2022. DEEP has embraced these higher visitor levels and the opportunities to connect park visitors with other Connecticut tourist destinations, with the launch of a new, interactive state parks website, ctparks.com. Connecticut’s $4.6 billion outdoor recreation economy also has demonstrated robust growth each year since the pandemic, expanding by 20% in 2021 and then by another 11% in 2022. This is the second largest in New England, supporting almost 46,000 jobs.
Thanks to the Passport to the Parks program, DEEP is able to maintain parks services and operations without charging Connecticut residents a fee to park at popular park destinations. The recent increase in public demand for outdoor recreation at state parks coincides with a historic investment in state park facilities and services. Since 2022, the Lamont administration and the legislature have committed $80 million in capital investments as part of the Restore CT State Parks initiative. This initiative is funding repairs and improvements at more than 40 park locations, from renovations of Heublein Tower at Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury, to site improvements at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam.
Against this backdrop of increased visitation, a growing outdoor economy, and a once-in-a-generation level of capital investment in park facilities, DEEP is launching a RFI to solicit ideas and concepts from strategic partners – businesses, nonprofits, and other interested stakeholders – about new or expanded partnerships DEEP could pursue to elevate the outdoor recreation experience in state parks, create new tourism destinations, and provide equitable access to the outdoors.
“Through this new office and initiative, we are elevating the outdoor recreation experience in our parks, creating new tourism destinations, and building on the Lamont administration’s commitment to providing equitable access to the outdoors,” Commissioner Dykes said. “I encourage private sector organizations who share our values for both outdoor recreation and conservation to submit partnership concepts. We’re eager to hear ideas from nonprofits and businesses about ways they could partner with us to provide expanded services and amenities for state park visitors, that reflect our values for both outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation. We want to hear from our visitors about the kinds of experiences you’d like to see result from these partnerships.”
“The initial steps established by DEEP’s RFI are bold, smart, and innovative,” Anthony Anthony, Connecticut’s chief marketing officer, said. “These kinds of partnerships with the private sector have long been encouraged by the Lamont administration, and this one in particular will build sustainable development of the tourism industry. More importantly, it will expand access to our state parks, which are some of Connecticut’s finest and most visited tourist destinations. It’s a win-win for everyone — tourists and residents alike, private industry, and our economy.”
This RFI will seek to add to DEEP’s successful partnerships, which includes canoe and kayak rentals through Clarke Outdoors at Burr Pond State Park; the Essex Steam Train, an iconic regional tourism destination in Connecticut Valley Railroad State Park; Farmington River Tubing, which provides a safe, enjoyable experience in Satan’s Kingdom State Park; and the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area.
Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals are invited to apply to the RFI, which can be found on the website for DEEP’s Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences at portal.ct.gov/DEEP-parks-partnerships.
The RFI seeks to:
- Elevate outdoor recreation and visitor experiences: DEEP is interested in exploring partnerships to provide services that elevate the public’s experience in Connecticut State Parks. Potential services could include boat or bike rentals, events, locally sourced farmers’ markets held in parks, guided experiences, “glamping,” rafting or tubing, skiing, biking, marinas or boat shares, food and beverage, and other outdoor recreation partnerships concepts.
- Expand tourism destinations: State parks are one of Connecticut’s largest tourism attractions, and DEEP seeks to build on our success through partnerships that expand sustainable tourism opportunities and support local economic development.
- Provide equitable and sustainable access to the outdoors: DEEP seeks to establish partnerships that provide all visitors with equitable opportunities to participate in outdoor recreation experiences, such as universal, adaptive, and ADA-compliant equipment rental, experiences, and education.
“With today’s announcement of the new Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences, Governor Lamont is demonstrating great leadership in recognizing the relationship between outdoor recreation and public health, economic development, and state competitiveness,” Chris Perkins, vice president of programs for Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, said. “Connecticut is joining 20 other states around the country who have created dedicated offices and positions to advance the outdoor recreation economy. At a time when the outdoor recreation economy has reached $1.1 trillion in economic impact nationwide and $4.6 billion in Connecticut, we couldn’t be more excited to support the new office’s work.”
“We’re thrilled to support Governor Lamont’s vision for the future of outdoor recreation here in Connecticut,” Neil Johnson, store manager for REI Co-op in Milford, said. The outdoor retailer has three locations in the state and operates a wide range of educational experiences and programs. “Whether you prefer to explore the waters of the Long Island Sound or traipse our extensive segment of the Appalachian Trail, the $4.6 billion outdoor recreation industry provides health, economic and social benefits to everyone in our state. We look forward to working with this new office as we strive to make time outside more accessible for all.”
“Excited is an understatement,” Mick Ferraro, secretary of the Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance, said. “The new Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences will be a game-changer for promoting outdoor recreation in Connecticut and embodies Governor Lamont’s initiative to ‘Make It Here.’ With outdoor recreation contributing more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy, this office is poised to impact the health of our state in a multitude of ways. We look forward to collaborating with the new office to continue increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, supporting economic development, and stewarding Connecticut’s natural resources.”
“I applaud DEEP for their innovation in establishing an office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences to partner with the private sector to enhance outdoor recreation in state parks,” Ryan Snide, president of Friends of Connecticut State Parks, said. “I encourage our various Friends groups to consider and share the RFI with the organizations that they think would be best fit for their local state parks.”
To learn more about the new Office of Outdoor Industry or to submit a proposal through the RFI, visit portal.ct.gov/DEEP-parks-partnerships.
Today my daughter @isabellastrahan joined @robinrobertsgma and myself for an interview about the journey she has been going through on @goodmorningamerica. ❤️❤️❤️
I love you Isabella and I’m always by your side. To all sending love, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!
📸 ABC/Heidi Gutman
Formulario en Español: https://forms.gle/Z3hzHzaboDCZUdDPA
Community Navigators will play an important role in providing leadership and engaging New Haven residents in the Vision 2034 planning process. Community Navigators will be involved in engagement across all plan topics, strategizing on how to reach populations often excluded by traditional outreach methods, acting as liaison to those groups/individuals, and trained to host and facilitate public input meetings using a facilitation toolkit. Please fill out this form if you are interested in serving as a Community Navigator. City Plan will select approximately 10 Community Navigators. Priority will be given to applicants based on availability for meeting dates through 2025, geographic representation, ability to engage communities not otherwise represented, and lived experience or professional expertise with major plan topics. Applications must be received by January 28, 2024
What is the Vision 2034 Plan?
New Haven’s Vision 2034 Comprehensive Plan (required by state statute every 10 years) will be a blueprint of the city's vision for the future, and a policy guide for achieving planning goals. It will serve as a decision-making guide for residents, community leaders, and government officials in matters relating to land use, housing, transportation, sustainability, economic development, neighborhood planning, public investments, and capital improvement programs. You can review the City's current Plan, Vision 2025, here.
About Community Navigators
Who should apply: New Haven residents who are involved with and connected to their community and want to assist with direct outreach and engagement of residents on plan topics. Candidates must be willing to work flexible hours, including weekends, and evenings. This is a part-time, temporary position.
Time Commitment: 2-5 hours per week from late January 2024 through September 2025 Compensation: Compensated at an hourly rate ($25/hour) Meeting Dates/Times: Scheduled based on cohort availability. Outreach and engagement will be independently scheduled. Accessibility: Meetings will be held downtown in a wheelchair accessible room with a hybrid (Zoom) option. Bus passes are available. Translation/interpretation services are available for meetings. Masking policy will be communicated prior to the meeting based on Covid-19 rates. If you have an accessibility request, including a request related to Covid-19 testing or masking, please inform the City Plan Department.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesTo perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required.
- Cultivates a welcoming and respectful environment while facilitating community conversations.
- Must be available to work at least 2-5 hours per week as assigned for hands-on programs, and virtual programs as needed.
- Maintain registration, attendance, record keeping, and program evaluations; and communicate with site coordinators about schedule or program changes.
- Participates in required training.
Knowledge and Skills:
- Community facilitation experience.
- Bilingual/bicultural, preferred but not required.
- Experience working with groups of multicultural and under-represented backgrounds.
- Knowledge of diverse communities and ability to facilitate youth and adults of diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Ability to work independently and manage time effectively.
- Have daily access to dependable transportation
- Ability to work flexible hours, including during and weekends if needed
- Effective, active listening skills as well as excellent written and oral communication skills
- Organizational and problem solving skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills with community
- Knowledge of and/or demonstrate the ability to learn and implement Operating Systems (i.e. Windows); Office suites (i.e. Microsoft Office, Google Docs); Presentation Software (i.e. PowerPoint, Keynote); Spreadsheets (i.e. Excel, Google Spreadsheets); Communication and Collaboration tools (i.e. Remind, Zoom, Skype); Student Information Systems (i.e. Naviance, PowerSchool); or any other technology deemed relevant for this position
There will be many other ways to get involved in the Comprehensive Plan process including topical co-creation teams, informational meetings, focus groups, and pop up events. Sign up for our Department newsletter to learn about opportunities to get involved: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/UuUwN
Vision 2034 Kickoff Meeting Thursday Jan 11
Vision 2034 Launch Meeting
January 11, 2024 | 5:30pm-7pm
Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School BRAMS Hall (across the parking lot from the main school building)
150 Kimberly Avenue, New Haven, CT 06519
Note: This venue is wheelchair accessible.
Open House from 5:30pm-6:15pm followed by a brief presentation and Q&A. Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided.
Hybrid Option
Join us on Zoom for the presentation and Q&A at 6:15pm.
https://newhavenct.zoom.us/j/87374987745?pwd=1lzEbT01wKV8P18ADU1tGmaUSf3ymg.1
Click link Open for Vision 2034 Community
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