Rell's reorganizing a plan for economic development

Before Gov M. Jodi Rell, gave her State of the State speech, her office announced it would include a "large restructuring of state agencies" to favor economic development and a "transformed" Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).

Details of the plan show it to be much less sweeping a department's name is changed, three financing programs are gathered into one larger office, a policy coordinator position is created in the governor's office and three small units are added to the DECD, which would be called the Department of Business and Employment (DBE).

The consolidation of financing programs for businesses and organizations involved in health or education would result in no new funding; the new units of the future DBE would amount to $750,000 in overall new spending, while the department as a whole will increase spending to $21 million, an increase of $2.3 million.

Rell said the moves will help the state make economic policy and help it hire individual companies to the state.