Fairfield County Business Journal 090814

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY

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

September 8, 2014 | VOL. 50, No. 36

Bank survey finds growth, momentum

FCBJ this week PROJECT ADVANCES A developer and Norwalk clear a hurdle toward building … 5

BY BILL FALLON

HAGUE STEPS DOWN Centerplate CEO resigns after allegations of animal cruelty … 7

Bfallon@westafairinc.com

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exodus of the urban poor. For community leaders, it has been a struggle to keep their neighborhoods intact. The president of a Fairfield County nonprofit based in Bridgeport and a Korean missionary couple who started a church in Cincinnati have dedicated themselves to what they believe are cornerstones to building a community: One focuses on providing low-income families with homes and the other is establishing a church that serves not just its members but its surrounding neighborhood. For years, urban renewal has been used by municipalities as an economic engine that revi-

o fully appreciate the upbeat nature of a small-business conversation with Kent McClun, Wells Fargo’s president for Connecticut, know that the bank’s in-house metric for small-business confidence tanked in the third quarter of 2010 at 28 points below zero. Its high four years earlier — the fourth quarter of 2006 — had been 114. The third-quarter 2014 number — recently released and the result of 603 interviews with small-business owners in 50 states — is 49. “We’re certainly headed in the right direction,” McClun said from the Wells Fargo office in Meriden. Wells Fargo conducted the poll with Gallup Inc. Since 2003, they have produced the Wells Fargo/Gallup Small Business Index. The index also charts “present situation” and pegs a number to it. The small-business present situation for the third quarter of this year was rated in the survey at 18; in the second quarter it bottomed at 2. McClun cited active-growth industries that include accounting, law, professional services and health care. “Also, there’s a big emphasis on green energy — green replacing old technology,” he said. “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Wells Fargo has committed $100 billion nationally to small-business lending between now and 2018. “We’re committed to 2018,” McClun said. “But I’d like to lend $100 billion by 2015. We’re certainly here for the small business to help them grow and be successful.” The bank’s initiatives in that direction include WellsFargoWorks.com, which opened May 1 and can be used by noncustomers. McClun said, “It provides resources, guidance and services for small businesses. Things you might not think of can be critical: picking a payroll provider, even hiring an attorney and an accountant and when to expand.” Asked if the feedback has been positive, he said, “Very much so.” Small-business owners are feeling better

» COMMUNITIES, page 6

» BANK, page 19

BORDER SUSHI A franchise opens in Byram … 15 FC BUZZ The Palace Theatre has new seats and an expanded playbill … 22

MEDIA PARTNER

THE FIFTH STREET SHUFFLE

FOR STORY, SEE PAGE 6

Fifth Street CEO Len Tannenbaum and state Department of Economic and Community Developement Commissioner Catherine Smith. Photo by Bill Fallon

Urban blight vs. urban flight

WRESTLING WITH HOW TO KEEP COMMUNITIES INTACT BY CRYSTAL KANG ckang@westfairinc.com

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ometimes it takes sweat equity and faith to rebuild a community. Bridgeport and Cincinnati may be 700 miles apart, but each share high percentages of residents living below the poverty level — 24 and 29 percent, respectively. They also have in common organizations committed to restoring balance in economies made lopsided by urban renewal. The flight of the urban poor from gentrified areas is a growing problem nationwide. Urban renewal projects, which often promise to bring a diverse group of people together, can create an


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