NCCC holding help desk panel discussion

WINSTED – The Entrepreneurial Center at Northwestern Connecticut Community College will offer local entrepreneurs an opportunity for an interactive panel discussion with experienced startup businesses, 6-8 p.m. April 5. Startup & Small Business Helpdesk will be a free online event open to the public, and registration is required.

Knowledge of market research, access to capital, investigating industry trends, as well as sizing up competitors, creating an ideal customer profile, and choosing the right research methods for your business venture, will be covered during the discussion.

Guest panelists will include: Hope Ross Gibaldi, founder of Learn In Motion and community engagement manager at Valley Venture Mentors; Heather Johnson, MBA, Co-Founder and COO of Gozynta, LLC; Antwaine Debnam, founder of TripeTote and co-founder at Capri Media Company; and Robert Torres, Managing Partner at 302 Interactive.

The event will be moderated by John Fiorello, NCCC adjunct business development instructor and startup mentor for early stage startups in the region serving both for-profit and non-profit entrepreneurs. Fiorello is also the founder of the startup company RecordME.co, which is geared to changing the way music and other content is delivered to fans. With a background in music, touring, production, and recording, Fiorello previously co-founded The John Samuel Group, L3C with his wife, Karie.

This event is sponsored by the Entrepreneurial Center and the Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation.

To register for this event, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ 142932020521. For more information contact Laura McCarthy at lmccarthy@nwcc.edu.

Connecticut Green Bank offering loans

ROCKY HILL — As part of its Smart-E Loan Spring Special Offer, the Connecticut Green Bank announces zero percent loan rates for Connecticut households that are at or below 80 percent Area Median Income, as

defined by the “vulnerable communities” definition underneath Public Act 20-05 passed in the special session last fall, according to a statement.

The Smart-E Loan unlocks financing for homeowners seeking to make home performance and energy upgrades, such as adding insulation, improving windows, updating heating, ventilation, and cooling systems with new boilers, furnaces, or heat pumps (air or ground source), installing electric vehicle charging stations, and adding battery storage to solar PV systems. Additionally, homeowners approved for assistance with crumbling foundations can qualify for 0% Smart-E loans. For all other homeowners, the rate will be lowered to 1.99 percent.

“The Smart-E Loan Spring Special is intended to further stimulate the recovery of the state’s clean energy economy by offering low interest rates to all homeowners for projects that reduce their energy cost burdens. By offering a special zero interest rate for lower income households, we hope to help these families reduce their energy bills, and improve the comfort of their home. With nearly 400 contractors registered in the Smart-E program, many local small businesses will also benefit from this promotion,” said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank.

The Smart-E Loan is made available through a network of nine participating local banks, credit unions, and a community development financial institution across the state.

Smart-E Loans through the Spring Special Offer are available for terms of five, seven and 10 years. Insulation, heat pump and window loans require completion of an Energize CT Home Energy Solutions assessment or proof of having completed an energy assessment within the last three years to qualify for the limited-time, reduced rate.

For more information, go to www.ctgreenbank.com/ smart-e.

GHAR: Single family home inventory drops

HARTFORD — According to the Greater Hartford Association of Realtors, closed sales of single-family homes in Greater Hartford rose 7.7 percent over February of last year (from 352 to 379). Pending sales decreased 2.23 percent (from 404 to 395) and the median sale price increased 21.74 percent (from $230,000 to $280,000). New listings decreased 32.66 percent (from 689 to 464) and inventory dropped 52.15 percent (from 2004 to 959), during this same timeframe.

In year-to-date numbers, over last year, new listings decreased 33.18 percent (from 1305 to 872). Pending sales remained the same at 828 sales and closed sales rose 7.94 percent (from 768 to 829). The median sales price increased 21.28 percent (from $235,000 to $285,000) and the average days spent on market increased 37.33 percent (from 75 to 47), during this same year to date, year over year, timeframe.

Condominium closed sales remained the same at 95 units and pending sales rose 14.58 percent (from 96 to 110) over February of 2020. The median sale price increased 7.81 percent (from $160,000 to $172,500) and inventory decreased 34.81 percent (from 474 to 309). New listings dropped 24.32 percent (from 185 to 140) over this time versus a year ago.

“Housing inventory is still tight in Greater Hartford, which usually signals a rise in price,” stated GHAR CEO, Holly Callanan. “Using a knowledgeable Realtor is vital to navigating the multiple offers and tight deadlines that are associated with this unique market,” she said.

In the national outlook, Lawrence Yun, National Association of Realtors chief economist, said "Home sales continue to ascend in the first month of the year, as buyers quickly snatched up virtually every new listing coming on the market. Sales easily could have been even 20% higher if there had been more inventory and more choices."

The Greater Hartford Association of Realtors is the largest local real estate trade association in Connecticut, serving over 4000 members in the 27 town Greater Hartford real estate brokerage community. The Association provides technology, training, networking and business support to members, and supports a healthy real estate market by upholding high professional and ethical standards through a Code of Ethics, ongoing education and certification programs. As the advocate for the real estate brokerage industry, GHAR is the Voice for Real Estate in the Greater Hartford region. For more information, call 860-561-1800 or visit www.gharonline.com.

Fiorello