About Us Overview

About Us:

The Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership is an interstate collaboration of regional economic development, planning, business, tourism and educational institutions that work together to advance the region’s economic progress. The region we promote transcends political boundaries. It comprises the Hartford and Springfield metropolitan areas and is centered on six counties—three in each state—linked by a shared economy, history and culture and by features including Bradley International Airport, rail lines, Interstate 91 and the Connecticut River. The group markets the region as “New England’s Knowledge Corridor,” emphasizing the area’s rich history of innovation, invention and world-class educational assets.

HSEP promotes the region through a variety of initiatives focused on business development, talent retention, advocacy and research.

HSEP has advanced projects with regional implications and furthered the economic progress of the interstate region by capitalizing on historic economic, natural and cultural ties. For marketing purposes, the region has been branded, "New England’s Knowledge Corridor: Gateway to Innovation," underscoring the area’s rich tradition of inventions, research and higher education.

The group is led by a volunteer steering committee made up of representatives from supporting organizations. HSEP’s steering committee member organizations today include:

Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Bradley International Airport
Capital Workforce Partners
Capitol Region Council of Governments
Central Connecticut State University
East of the River Chambers of Commerce Association (Conn.)
Hampden County Regional Employment Board
Holyoke Community College
MetroHartford Alliance
Northeast Utilities
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Springfield Technical Community College
University of Connecticut
University of Hartford
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council

Background

Professionals who would ultimately make up the initial HSEP steering committee began meeting in mid-1999 to discuss cooperative ventures. This was done at the urging of Northeast Utilities, parent company of Connecticut Light & Power, Yankee Gas and Western Massachusetts Electric. NU continues to serve the group as its facilitator and expert resource. The interstate effort was reinforced by the release of an economic analysis performed by national consultant Michael Gallis, who was retained by the Connecticut Regional Institute for the 21st Century. His report identified the Hartford-Springfield area as a major economic corridor in the Northeastern United States.

HSEP was formally launched in September 2000 with the goal of increasing interstate cooperative efforts to support marketing and public policy goals. It received public support from the governors of Connecticut and Massachusetts and from leaders of the chief business, economic development, planning and educational organizations in Greater Hartford and Greater Springfield.