Posted on July 11, 2024
Hartford, CT – Wednesday at the Mystic Seaport Museum, State Representative Holly Cheeseman (R-37) attended a ceremony hailing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between like-minded organizations in the State of Connecticut that believe the Blue Economy can serve as a driving force for economic development, coastal and community resilience, and innovation.
The mission is to be the nexus for the Blue Economy in the State of Connecticut. As a critical driver of sustainable economic growth, the Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of activities related to the ocean, coastlines, and inland waterways. The Blue Economy coalition the supports the state’s vision to harness marine and maritime resources responsibly, fostering innovation, job creation, and environmental stewardship.
Stakeholders will get together to best determine strategies for supporting the growth and stability of the blue economy through education, acceleration, advocacy, and communication. Each organization brings its own set of strengths, infrastructure, networking opportunities, and skill sets to the coalition. As a collaboration, we will leverage our combined strengths to accelerate and empower a sustainable future for blue economic growth in Connecticut.
Rep. Cheeseman said, “As we look to the future, it is clear that Connecticut’s Blue Economy holds immense potential. By prioritizing sustainability, innovation, and community engagement, we can create a resilient and prosperous marine economy that benefits all residents of our state.”
Connecticut’s Blue Economy initiative emphasizes sustainable practices that protect our precious marine ecosystems while driving economic growth, innovative research and development in areas such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, and oceanography. It also provides a source of job creation and economic opportunities for Connecticut. By fostering a business-friendly environment and investing in workforce development, we can ensure that Connecticut residents are well-equipped to take advantage of these opportunities.
The coalition will also engage our communities and educating the public about the importance of the Blue Economy is essential for its long-term success. The success of Connecticut’s Blue Economy depends on strong collaboration and partnerships between government agencies, private sector stakeholders, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations. By working together, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to achieve common goals. Our organization is committed to fostering these partnerships and advocating for policies that support the sustainable growth of the Blue Economy.
CBEC Founding Members:
AdvanceCT is a private nonprofit economic development organization that drives job creation and new capital investment in Connecticut through business attraction, retention, and expansion, in close cooperation with state, regional, and local partners.
ClimateHaven is an innovation hub. Built on a community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, corporate partners, and investors, we are united by a shared vision to accelerate the transformative impact climate tech innovation can have on decarbonizing our global economy.
Spearheading the development of the renewable energy industry in the State – in particular, the offshore wind industry – with a focus on advancing Connecticut’s green economy.
GreenWave replicates and scales regenerative ocean farms to create jobs and protect the planet. We train and support ocean farmers in the era of climate change, working with coastal communities around the world to create a blue economy – built and led by farmers.
Mystic Seaport Museum is the nation’s leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929 to gather and preserve the rapidly disappearing artifacts of America’s seafaring past, the Museum has grown to become a national center for research and education with the mission to “inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience.”
Bringing discoveries back to shore is key to our mission. Equipped with the world’s most advanced underwater cameras and onboard Hollywood-level production capabilities, we’re reimagining the future of nature cinematography. And since the story doesn’t stop there, we amplify our mission through a range of activations and experiences that maximize our impact.
Founded in 1972, Project Oceanology is a non-profit education and research facility dedicated to nurturing student and public interest and enthusiasm for marine sciences and for our planet’s marine environment. Governed by local school districts and in collaboration with universities and other educational institutions; Project Oceanology’s vision is to be the center of excellence for inquiry, and place-based science and marine education serving the evolving needs of our global community.
The Southeastern CT Enterprise Region (seCTer) is the region’s designated private, non-profit Economic Development Organization providing a broad range of services and resources to stimulate and support economic development and diversification within Southeastern Connecticut.
Launched in 2016, ThayerMahan offers maritime domain data solutions and related services for government and industry customers. And the company utilizes its expertise in underwater acoustics, artificial intelligence, remotely piloted systems, and maritime autonomy to deliver value to customers. ThayerMahan’s products and services detect marine mammals, mitigate offshore construction noise, and deliver a range of undersea detection and security services.
University of Connecticut, Avery Point
The mission of the Avery Point campus of UConn is aimed at “fulfilling UConn’s responsibilities as a Sea Grant institution. Avery Point contributes to the understanding – and solution – of problems relating to the intersection of oceans and people, both through the expertise of the faculty and the education of its students who will help ensure sustainable uses of marine resources and coastal regions and cities.” Campus instruction is focused in marine sciences and maritime studies. The campus is home to Connecticut Sea Grant, the CT Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), Mystic Aquarium Research Laboratories, National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT), Naval and Maritime Consortium, and Project Oceanology, UConn’s Connecticut Initiative on Environmental Research of Offshore Wind (CIEROW) and the offices of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR).