Fair 072913

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY

BUSINESS JOURNAL YOUR ONLY SOURCE FOR REGIONAL BUSINESS NEWS | westfaironline.com

UNDER

FCBJ this week CONNECTICUT WILL INVEST $18 MILLION in nine standalone electric generators as part of a microgrid pilot program … 3

the

July 29, 2013 | VOL. 49, No. 30

WEATHER

CLIMATE CHANGE SPURS INSURANCE DISCLOSURES

JOB GAINS: CT vs. U.S.

THE STATE’S HIGHEST COURT should overturn a Superior Court ruling that would force out Bridgeport schools superintendent Paul Vallas … 4

BY JENNIFER BISSELL jbissell@westfairinc.com

P

SINGLE-FAMILY HOME SALES increased 10.5 percent statewide in the second quarter compared with the same period last year … 8 A BOUTIQUE INVESTMENT BANKING FIRM in Southport helps firms navigate the ins and outs of selling (or buying) a business … 11

MEDIA PARTNER

U.S CONNECTICUT

Percent change in nonfarm employment, June 2012-13 Source: U.S. Department of Labor

CONNECTICUT OUTPACED BY NATIONAL RECOVERY

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A clean, well-lighted place, 2013 REAL ESTATE GATHERS STEAM

BY BILL FALLON bfallon@westfairinc.com

FOR 200-PLUS BUSINESSPEOPLE, many in

the commercial real estate and development arenas, the future of Westchester and Fairfield counties was laid out as clearly as prognostication will allow recently at a breakfast in the grand ballroom of Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Center. Both the real estate data and the mood were upbeat, a champagne moment amid the coffee and orange juice that stood in contrast to the downturn-fueled morbid-

ity of real estate’s recent past. If a person arrived looking for a run of the bulls, it was there. One panelist professed hope for a three- to four-year era of black ink. The event — titled “The Future of Westchester and Fairfield Counties” — was produced by Washington, D.C.-based Bisnow Media. “If you have a good location and good amenities, the market is good,” said panelist Jeff Newman, executive vice president, Malkin Properties. He noted new commercial deals remained low and early renewals were down, “largely because they already did it.” But, he said, “It’s a heck of a lot bet-

eople may still have their doubts about climate change, but it’s already affecting property owners’ bottom lines. According to industry reports, property insurance rates have increased more than 5 percent over the last year in places like Connecticut that have a high exposure to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards or wildfires. Experts agree the frequency of such disasters is expected to increase with climate change, and as a result, there’s a heightened focus on the insurance industry and how property owners can protect themselves. To facilitate a transparent conversation with the insurance industry, officials at the Connecticut Insurance Department recently joined four other states in mandating insurance companies complete an annual climate change risk survey to assess what providers are doing to prepare for the effects of climate change. “Connecticut has been significantly impacted by the weather so I think it’s important the industry understands what this means and what’s at risk for them,” said George Bradner, the Insurance Department’s director of property and casualty. “It’s important that companies recognize what their risks are. They have a sophisticated process of underwriting risks; they have to make sure they’re solvent to take on insurance claims at the

» Real Estate, page 6

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2Growth

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19 Filling a void

» Climate, page 6

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