CT treasurer Wooden tours Stamford’s innovation district

STAMFORD — State Treasurer Shawn Wooden got on board the Harbor Point Trolley, which took him up and down the city’s downtown and the South End Monday in a tour showcasing ongoing development projects.

“Innovation and Fairfield County are both key to driving our State’s long-term economic growth strategy,” Wooden said in a press release. “It is clear that Stamford is leading the way quickly becoming a regional and national draw for startups and entrepreneurs to do business in a community that offers a highly educated workforce, a vibrant urban setting and great job opportunities.”

Accompanying Wooden were Director of Economic Development Thomas Madden, Michael Pollard, Mayor David Martin’s chief of staff, Business Council of Fairfield County President Chris Bruhl and other business leaders.

Among some of the developments and programs described on Monday’s tour were: Food N’ Beverage Connect, LAUNCH Talent Ecosystem Development, the Entrepreneur in Training program at Ferguson Library and Stamford Innovation Week.

“It is important to show the State how the grant money from Innovation Places is being spent in a productive manner that is helping to move the region forward and support the development of our entrepreneurial ecosystem here,” Madden said.

Wooden also stopped by neighboring Westport in a visit that focused on teachers’ pensions, tolls and the economy.

“This is important as we work on the state level and with our local partners to make workforce development in the hi-tech environment a top priority. Along with investments in innovation centers in Hartford, New Haven, and New London, Connecticut is smartly rethinking how we do business to best attract companies and talent to our…