FAIRFIELD COUNTY
BUSINESS JOURNAL
YOUR only SOURCE FOR regional BUSINESS NEWS | westfaironline.com
November 12, 2012 | VOL. 48, No. 46
STATE bleeds blue
First Five pioneer to cut state workforce BY PATRICK GALLAGHER
pgallagher@westfairinc.com Global health care giant Cigna Corp., the first company to be introduced into the state’s First Five initiative, is retrenching in Connecticut as part of a 4 percent global workforce reduction. Bloomfield-based Cigna is cutting approximately 1,300 employees, including 200 in Connecticut, as part of a global “realignment and efficiency plan” detailed during the company’s third quarter earnings release conference call Nov. 1. The disclosure came as Cigna reported stronger-than-expected third quarter revenues and earnings, with the company raising
Dems sweep senate, congressional races
All hands on deck
BY PATRICK GALLAGHER
D
First Five, page 2
FCBJ TODAY Deficit likely as Medicaid spending $100 million over budget ... 3 Official: Sandy sharpens need for investment in energy infrastructure ... 5 Fairfield County Young Professionals Network seeks to gain traction ... 7 Data Centers offer continuity as businesses weather Sandy’s aftermath ... 8 Also … Can Congress change its tone and get down to business? ... 4
MEDIA PARTNER
pgallagher@westfairinc.com emocrats swept Connecticut’s senate and congressional races as both parties defended their turf on Election Day, leaving the makeup of the federal and state government largely unchanged after an estimated $6 billion in cumulative campaign spending. President Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney to win re-election with 50 percent of the popular vote and at least 303 electoral votes pending results in Florida, sweeping nearly all of the swing states seen as being critical to a Romney presidency. “Democracy in a nation of 300 million can be noisy and messy and complicated,” Obama said, calling for unity as he took the stage in Chicago at about 1:30 a.m. EST. “As it has for more than two centuries, progress will come in fits and starts. … By itself, the recognition that we have common hopes and dreams won’t end all the gridlock or solve all our problems or substitute for the painstaking work of building consensus and making the difficult compromises needed to move this country forward. But that common bond is where we must begin.” As polls closed on the East Coast Nov. 6, the contest between Rep. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Linda McMahon for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Lieberman was among the first races to
Utilities team with FEMA, Air Force to restart businesses BY PATRICK GALLAGHER
pgallagher@westfairinc.com Pomodoro Pizzeria & Pasta on East Putnam Avenue in Riverside, like hundreds of other businesses lining Route 1 in Fairfield County, was not spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy’s wrath. But because owner Mark Mazzota had rented a portable generating unit prior to the storm’s arrival, the restaurant was
able to remain open almost uninterrupted despite power outages that swept through the coastal areas. “We were fortunate enough to stay open,” Mazzota said, adding that the restaurant saw about triple its normal sales volume throughout the week. “Virtually every restaurant was closed at one point in Greenwich. Here, there were lines out Hands, page 6
15
Help for small business
State, page 6
2
Ready to grow