update 4/27: the ideal timing for this action alert has passed – thank you for your interest. Over 300 letters went to the CT State Capitol thanks to our swift community action. Gov. Rell and Lt. Gov. Fedele each got over 80 letters sent to them through our system. Click here to read: Thank You Letter from Matthew Nemerson ____
Act Now to Urge Your Representatives to Support: Angel Investment Tax Credit and Fund, Pre-Seed Center, Venture Capital House Bill 5435 and Senate Bill 323. GO—>>>>
Negotiations are now taking place between the Governor's staff and staff of the legislative leadership. Now is the time your support will have highest leverage. On Friday, we sent a request for quick action – and this weekend, over 200 letters have been sent to the Hill from the CT Tech Community, WOW! Did you send one yet? In these last few hours, you can still make a difference – we will pull the action alert later today.
We ask you to take 5 minutes on our legislative action tool to send a note of support – to voice your support of technology jobs growth legislation that the CTC has worked to advance and that will promote job creation in Connecticut. Use the tool to quickly create your own or use our sample letter, to send a note to your legislators….
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Background and full letter request from the CTC President & Grassroots Task Force:
4/23/2010
TODAY, I'm going to ask you to take five minutes to voice your support of technology jobs growth legislation that the CTC has worked to advance and that will promote job creation in Connecticut. If you can, please act on this TODAY – our window for success may be this weekend.
The state legislative session is scheduled to end in less than two weeks. Key issues that will help create job creating new high technology companies will finally be discussed over the next two days. Negotiations are now taking place between the Governor's staff and staff of the legislative leadership. Now is the time your support will have highest leverage.
We have heard there is a serious risk that some or all of these programs may be taken out of the final jobs bills. It has taken years to advance to this stage. We think now is the time for these programs.
If you agree with the approach we have encouraged, please email your state senator and state representative, copying key legislative and administration leaders. Using our linked legislative alert system this is quick and simple.
Background: Over the past few years and this last fall we worked closely with the legislature to develop four key planks to encourage technology growth:
An angel investment tax credit to leverage and increase the amount of angel investments made each year in Connecticut,
A fund to co-invest in angel deals to increase the size and size of angel deals
A focused "Pre-Seed" center to package and help create more start-ups, and
Reallocating several large tax credit programs to make more later-stage "venture" capital available for tech firms.
Experience from other states supports that if these four items are passed and funded at some minimal level, Connecticut will see a quick and significant impact on the number of tech start-ups in the state and eventually on the number of new high quality technology jobs.
The bills being sent to the Finance Committee are House Bill 5435 and Senate Bill 323. An analysis is provided by the House at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/BA/2010HB-05435-R000415-BA.htm)
What we are asking you to do: Use this legislative action center to email to your legislators (their names will appear when you enter your zip code), AND copy your email to the leaders we have shown below. It's easy to use, and the email that is generated will come directly from your email system directly from you.
A suggested email is shown. Feel free to tailor it to reflect your style and any specifics you wish to add, but if you do not have much time, it is ok to simply use the draft shown. What is most important at this time is for our legislators to receive a number of such messages showing support.
Thank you. If any of you have any questions, feel free to call me or any other others at CTC.
Matthew Nemerson, President & CEO, Connecticut Technology Council
Kevin Burns, President & CEO, Precision Combustion, Co-Chair Grass Roots Taskforce
Richard Leone, President & CEO, COCC, Co-Chair Grass Roots Taskforce