David Lehman, Commissioner of Economic Development for the State of Connecticut with Matt Bird at Greenwich Economic Forum (Greenwich, CT)  

HIGHLIGHTS

-$18 trillion in assets attending 2019 GEF

-Greenwich named #1 safest city to live in according to US census

-David is working on new & innovative economic development delivery model for the state of Connecticut

FULL COVERAGE

• Watch complete coverage of the Greenwich Economic Forum

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS: David Lehman, Commissioner of Economic Development for the State of Connecticut with Matt Bird

Matt Bird – Host, Traders Network Show: 00:00

Welcome back to the Traders Network Show broadcasting worldwide from Greenwich, Connecticut. I’m Matt Bird. We’re here at the 2019 Greenwich Economic Forum. And my next guest is the economic development commissioner for the state of Connecticut. Dave Lehman. David, thanks for coming on the show. So David, tell us we’re here. We got a lot of thought leaders. We’ve got the governor the first selectman that just came off the stage. We got a lot of thought leaders and there’s a huge amount of economic development capability that’s sitting in this room next to us. Tell us why this event is important to you guys and on the economic development side. 

David Lehman – Commissioner of Economic Development, State of Connecticut: 00:42

Yeah. So this is a, this is the second year in a row having this event, hosting it here in Greenwich, Connecticut. And it’s really important because we have over 400 very influential investors, but beyond that, innovators and thought leaders, this is more than just a financial services. We’re a hedge fund conference, but I think the number is roughly 8 trillion of assets are in that room and investible assets, which is just a mind-blowing number. So I think it’s really important to have influential investors that are putting their capital and their assets to work on behalf of retirees and pensioners around the world and hosting it here in Connecticut. This has long been a financial services capital of the United States, but you know, like this conference, the Connecticut economy is much more than financial services these days. We’re diversifying into digital media and payment, advanced manufacturing as well as life sciences.

Matt Bird – Host, Traders Network Show: 00:54

So where can all this go? You have all of this economic development power sitting here. Where do you see all this heading?

David Lehman – Commissioner of Economic Development, State of Connecticut: 01:36

I think for us well a couple for this conference in particular, the goal is to really talk about the main ideas of today, not just in investing, but beyond that. Well, you know, what, what are the critical thoughts were it was just listening to a panel on macroeconomic policy and kind of where we are. And what the next presidential cycle means. So understanding those thoughts from an investing perspective is really, really important. I think for us to continue to be a convener of these innovators and entrepreneurs and investors here in the state of Connecticut, it’s really important because it’s who we are. We’re one of the most innovative States out there and we want to keep hosting conferences like this to show off what we have here in Connecticut.

See related article: Chuck Davis CEO of Stone Point Capital with Matt Bird at Greenwich Economic Forum | ESG News

Matt Bird – Host, Traders Network Show: 01:43

Well, you know, I love the participation from the economic development side you guys are taking in the event is certainly rings as a public private partnership integration. At least the first steps of that. You know, covering WEF, we see a lot of the same thought leaders that are in this room over in Davos. How is Connecticut going to go on to parlay this into something that’s going to end up in an economic development or stimulation for economic?

David Lehman – Commissioner of Economic Development, State of Connecticut: 02:28

Sure. So first off, I mean governor Lamont who is in the room, he’s the first businessman to run the state of Connecticut in a generation in almost 30 years. And you mentioned public private partnerships is that this event is one, but that’s the way the governor thinks about economic development here in the state. We’re engaging business leaders at all levels as it relates to education. Ray Dalio’s heavily involved as it relates to workforce. Cliff Asness is of the 13 CEOs on the governor’s workforce council. So we’re very focused on workforce transportation education, that in fiscal stability, tax stability. Those are really the keys for economic sustainable economic growth in the state of Connecticut. And that’s one of the reasons we’re here to make sure that that message is out under governor Lamont’s leadership.

Matt Bird – Host, Traders Network Show: 03:15

Well, I think it started off that way. Hey David, listen, I appreciate your time. We had a cut to him, our commercial break. I, you know what? I love to have you back. Are you going to be here tomorrow? Well, you know what? I’d love to have you back on, get some more comments from you as these panels evolve and maybe get some contribute a little bit to the content and the commentary as we go. Right. David, thanks a lot. You’re watching the Traders Network Show a special thanks to our affiliate partners, ABC, NBC, Fox, and CBS. We’ll be right back after these messages. Don’t go away.