Get off the bench and get into the game, Connecticut

Connecticut has recently been described as “warming the bench,” a “middle child” that can’t compete with New York or Boston.

After United Technologies recently announced it would move its corporate headquarters to Boston while maintaining a “strong presence” in Connecticut, it makes sense to take a hard look at ourselves.

But by no means is Connecticut doomed to the sidelines. Connecticut needs to adapt and commit to its own future. That means making smart investments and partnerships that create jobs, realigning the state’s economy with reality and making Connecticut a better destination for businesses — and for people.

No, Hartford will not be Boston. But Hartford and other cities in the state can be so much more than they are. Civic and government leaders need to get with the program and make some changes.

With the growth of insurance technology (“insurtech”) and financial technology (“fintech”) in our own economic back yard, we shouldn’t hesitate to clear the way for new businesses to set up shop. A thriving fintech ecosystem should become a major part of the state’s economy, not unlike the supply chain ecosystem that will continue to support United Technologies. From the insurance giants to the financial companies, all the players are here to make it happen.

News last week that Ideanomics, a fintech firm, was putting the brakes on a plan to occupy the former University of Connecticut campus in West Hartford was deeply unsettling. Losing Ideanomics could be a worse omen than losing UTC’s headquarters — the future of the state absolutely depends on adapting to the new economy.

It’s reassuring that Gov. Ned Lamont is working to salvage the deal to bring the company to the area. In a statement released Thursday, the CEO of Ideanomics, Alfred Poor, said, “We had a very positive meeting with Governor Lamont on Tuesday, and as a result we believe an equitable solution has been reached to move forward with Fintech Village.” That’s promising.

But there’s more to fixing the business climate than providing incentives to companies. The state needs to provide incentives to the people who would live here.

That means more investments in our cities.

It’s been said over and over, but it bears repeating: A metropolitan area absolutely must have a vibrant city at its core. Hartford has been on a good run lately, with Dunkin’ Donuts Park and the wildly successful first few seasons of the Hartford Yard Goats minor league baseball team, the opening of the downtown University of Connecticut campus, and new housing in old abandoned buildings.

But more needs to happen if corporate executives in Waltham, Mass., are ever going to consider moving to the area. Greater Hartford suburbanites themselves are proof of that. There are some 1.2 million people in the metropolitan area — the very vibrancy the city needs, already within a short drive. But they are content to spend their nights and weekends in their leafy back yards, enjoying barbecues with friends and sports with their children.

Our cities must become destinations — not only for businesses and newcomers, but for ourselves. The Yard Goats have proven that there is available capacity in Greater Hartford — suburbanites will come into the city for the right attraction. It’s time to build on that.

One easy step is to fix the XL Center. Sports teams are a key part of almost every vibrant city, and a top-shelf facility will draw more activity. What downtown doesn’t need is another bank branch. With the anticipated opening of a Chase Bank branch on Trumbull street, there will be seven banks visible from the city’s key intersection. Banks are not vibrant, banks are boring, and their presence guarantees nothing but locked doors on nights and weekends.

It will take a coordinated effort to get Connecticut back into the game, but the players are here. All we need is a little more hustle, a little more focus, a little more willingness to believe in ourselves.