Volume 2, Issue 1
Volume 2, Edition 1: August 2024
Commissioner's Corner
Dear Legislative Partners:
As the summer draws to a close, the team at DAS remains hard at work. In this edition of DAS Newsline, we celebrate Black Business Month by encouraging eligible businesses to get certified with the Supplier Diversity Program; highlight a $2 million investment in the Connecticut Building at the Big E that was recently approved by the legislature and the State Bond Commission; showcase the Southern Connecticut State University's School of Business -- Connecticut's first-ever state-constructed net-zero energy building, and celebrate the launch of the first three solar projects in DAS's portfolio.
Please feel free to share this information with your constituents,
Sincerely,
Michelle Gilman
Commissioner, DAS
Celebrating Black-Owned Businesses
August is Black Business Month and what better way to celebrate than by getting certified with Connecticut’s Supplier Diversity Program! Certification opens valuable avenues towards economic growth by helping companies build revenue and find potential new customers through set-asides and inclusion in an online directory used by state and private industry to identify vendors.
Black-owned businesses are encouraged to apply for the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification. Currently, we have 321 certified black-owned MBEs and we are working to increase that number by attending outreach events and providing trainings, clinics, and customer support to assist business owners with the certification process.
We are excited by our new collaboration with ShopBlackCT to support their vendors in the supplier diversity process. We will also partner with the Black Business Alliance to offer a Fireside Chat: Doing Business with the State of CT on Wednesday, September 11 from 7 to 8:30 pm. Register below to join us for a roundtable discussion where we’ll cover certification eligibility, steps, and how to find bid opportunities on the state contracting portal. Please feel free to share this event information with anyone who might be interested in attending.
Register for Fireside Chat: Doing Business with the State of CT (Zoom)
Upgrades to the Big E Connecticut Building
On August 8, the State Bond Commission approved $2 million for upgrades to the Connecticut Building at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. Each year, the Connecticut Building, located on the Avenue of the States and maintained by the Department of Administrative Services, sees more than 1 million visitors during the Big E fair, which runs from September 13 through September 29, 2024.
The funding approved by the Bond Commission will go towards a full roof replacement, exterior repairs, soffits and gutters, brick facade improvements, painting, and interior electrical upgrades. Look for this work to begin following the 2025 Big E.
DAS celebrates funding for Big E Connecticut building upgrades (ct.gov)
Net-Zero Energy at SCSU
DAS was thrilled to be back at the Southern Connecticut State University School of Business on August 5 to meet with our partners BuildGreenCT and the Sierra Club Connecticut Chapter to highlight the school's new building, which is the first in the State of Connecticut's portfolio to be constructed to net-zero energy standards.
In keeping with the state’s commitment to sustainability, the new business school building includes 52 geothermal wells that provide heating and cooling. The building is 100 percent electric and does not include any equipment that utilizes petroleum-based fuels. Offsetting the electrical loads is a dedicated solar field generating 635 kW of energy.
🌎 DAS Goes Green(er) 🌍
On July 31, Commissioner Gilman signed off on the first three solar projects in DAS's portfolio. In collaboration with the Connecticut Green Bank, work will soon begin on installations at 24 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, 155 Morgan Street, Hartford, and 315 Buckingham Street, Hartford.
These projects will help towards the state's climate and sustainability goals outlined in Governor Lamont's Executive Orders 1 and 21-3.
Highlighting DAS Mail and Courier Services
Did you know that DAS has an inter-departmental courier service with eight routes and 260 daily stops? Our couriers deliver thousands of parcels to every corner of the state -- and every branch of government -- each week.
DAS couriers are hardworking, dedicated and professional, and we truly appreciate their service.
Go Behind the Scenes with DAS
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