The Business Council of Fairfield County

NEWS & EVENTS

Congressman Shays joins with The Business Council of Fairfield County to Announce Health Care Industry Study Findings

Stamford, Connecticut; January 22, 2007 - - Congressman Christopher Shays and The Business Council of Fairfield County today released the findings of a comprehensive study that examined the economic opportunity in our region’s health care industry. The Health Care Industry Cluster Study is one of six components of the One Coast, One Future initiative focusing on economic growth and job creation in the Coastal Fairfield County region. One Coast, One Future is funded by a nearly $1,000,000 federal grant procured by Congressman Shays.

"With an aging population, the healthcare needs and resulting economic opportunities in Fairfield County are plentiful," Shays said. "The study has helped clarify the extent of the opportunity and how best our region can capitalize on them, creating jobs and training a workforce to fill them. This is a great step for One Coast, One Future's healthcare initiative and I'm excited to work with the partnership to implement this strategy."

The study analyzed demographic and health industry trends to identify emerging and future health services needs. The needs of an aging population, coupled with a shortage of faculty that train health care workers, will place increasing demands on those that currently serve this market yet will also offer economic opportunity for increased and new services. Through a public/private partnership including hospitals, colleges and universities, and other statewide groups involved in healthcare workforce initiatives, the Southwest Connecticut Health Workforce Initiative will address the current and projected healthcare labor force shortages.

The study also recommends the coordination of an economic development strategy focusing on health-related industries within the region’s economic development offices. The sectors to be targeted include medical devices and instruments, health-related insurance and finance and bioscience/biotechnology.

The Health Care Industry Cluster Study was conducted by Holt, Wexler & Farnam, a New Haven based consulting firm selected through an RFP process by a team of employers, educators, health care providers, and insurers.

For more information on the Health Care Industry Cluster Study please contact Lisa Mercurio at 203-705-0683.

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This project is funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA’s funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

About Us of Fairfield County
Over the past decade, The Business Council of Fairfield County has emerged as a nationally respected and influential regional network of business leaders, committed to strengthening the economic vitality of our region and the performance of its member firms through research-based public policy initiatives, information services and network building programs. It was formed in 1970 by the merger of three existing organizations, the oldest of which had been founded in 1890. Today, The Business Council of Fairfield County is a private, not-for profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of senior executives and served by a professional staff. It has more than 400 corporate and non-profit institution members and 1100 professional affiliate members.

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The Business Council of Fairfield County
One Landmark Square, Suite 300
Stamford, CT 06901-2679
General Phone: (203) 359-3220
Fax: (203) 967-8294
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