To welcome these and other potential newcomers to the area, the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is working with partners from the cities of New London and Groton, additional stakeholders, and the Thames River Innovation Place to create an economic initiative called Community Concierge. Community Concierge is one of the key projects supported by Thames River Innovation Place, which recently won a financial boost of up to $900,000 of grant money in a competitive bid to be named an “Innovation Place” in the state of Connecticut. The winning plan submitted by the partnership comprised of team members from the New London and Groton region stood out to the judges because of the energy of its team members and their ability “to get things done.” The program will establish a comprehensive local network database with information on family and individual quality of life activities such as civic associations, educational resources, local talent shows, open mic nights, sports activities, churches, schools, and other information that will provide a high quality experience for individuals and families. The Community Concierge will also provide information on professional opportunities for spouses and significant partners. While Community Concierge is open to any business or relocating individual, the concept was developed with special consideration to the large-scale hiring at Electric Boat, according to Sheri Cote, Vice President of the Chamber. Once up and running, Community Concierge will engage hotels, inns, B&Bs and private host homes to offer temporary accommodations for either a short stay during the interview process, or an extended stay while exploring home purchase or lease options. Community Concierge service will also serve to woo the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders by serving to educate all newcomers and locals alike on the availability of creative centers, such as CURE Innovation Commons and Spark Makerspace. “Social interaction and a sense of belonging are key characteristics expressed by millennials,” Cote said. “Millennials are interested in spending time in creative, interactive settings and Community Concierge will continually work to educate visitors and locals of events and opportunities that support those interests.” In order to connect with its users, Community Concierge will maintain an active social media campaign that advises the region on all happenings. The Concierge will also educate the community about where gathering hubs are located and provide support services for entrepreneurism, start-ups, and creators. The program will work to create partnerships and generate significant interest from the business community, which will in-turn build a process of support to maintain and expand services as needed. “In this way, the Community Concierge will serve as a vital source of information about all of the important pieces of the region as an innovative and vibrant place to do business,” Cote said. “The Chamber is always looking for innovative and collaborative ways to work with its partners to foster intelligent growth and a healthy entrepreneurial spirit in the region,” said Tony Sheridan, President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT. “Community Concierge is a great service for our residential and business community which will inspire the next generation of business leaders in eastern Connecticut.” Other Innovation Place projects include the creation of a Connecticut Naval Undersea Supply Chain Consortium which will “capitalize on the growing national undersea business base,” and a plan to connect Hodges Square in New London and the Thames Street/Bridge Street area in Groton by creating a pedestrian and bike walkway along the Gold Star Memorial Bridge. The goal of the Thames River Innovation Place initiative is to foster broad engagement in the work of making the communities of New London and Groton stronger, responsive to changing social and economic patterns and needs of its residents and businesses, and adept at recognizing and fostering innovation and more resiliency in the face of massive shifts underway in the world. “We’re looking to bring out the best in all of our communities,” Cote said of the Chamber’s role in the Innovation Place projects. “It’s an exciting time to be part of the local investment in entrepreneurial activity and business growth.”Business Express: Community Concierge Gets a Boost
An estimated 2,000 workers are expected to arrive in eastern Connecticut this year to begin new jobs at Electric Boat.
The new program will assist employers in the recruitment, relocation, and retention of employees by providing connections to the region’s arts, culture, shopping, dining, education, and community involvement opportunities. 
As one of six major projects that were identified as part of the Innovation Place program, Community Concierge will revamp the Chamber’s existing relocation program. The Chamber’s involvement provides the benefit of several resources already at work within the Chamber, including existing relationships with Naval Submarine Base New London, the US Coast Guard Academy and the US Coast Guard Station New London, General Dynamics Electric Boat, Dominion, Pfizer, and Connecticut College, among others. These relationships will allow more collaboration between the Community Concierge and existing welcome programs.
For additional information about the Community Concierge initiative, contact Sheri Cote at SCote@ChamberECT.com or call (860) 701-9113.
