CERC hosts 11th annual SiteFinder Showcase

The Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) hosted the 11th annual CERC SiteFinder Showcase - an event that brings together real estate and economic development professionals from across the state and features trends and topics important in today's commercial real estate world. Attendees heard about the latest economic development happenings in the state; innovative ways to harness the economic development resources of the University of Connecticut; how Connecticut's new Brownfields Liability Relief Law facilitates the sale of contaminated properties in Connecticut; and the latest economic outlook from CERC. They also got an overview of the new features being integrated into CTSiteFinder.com, Connecticut's most comprehensive online real estate database of available commercial properties. Two awards were presented at the Showcase. The CERC SiteFinder Partnership Award was presented to Frank Hird of O,R&L Commercial for his involvement and contributions to the economic development success of the state of Connecticut during his 20-year career. Mike Freda, selectman of North Haven, received the Economic Developer Award for actively engaging the business and real estate communities through speaking opportunities, direct outreach to both small and large businesses, and initiatives to make it easier to do business in North Haven. Sponsors of this year's Showcase included: Griffin Land, Wiggin & Dana, New England Real Estate Journal, Business New Haven, Commercial Real Estate Group, CT Community Investment Corp., CL&P/Yankee Gas, and UIL Holdings Corporation.