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Hartford: Now There's The DVD

By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN, Courant Staff Writer

October 03, 2007

Springsteen's gone, but there's another big premiere tonight in Hartford.

A 10-minute promotional DVD that portrays a rosy picture of the capital city to woo relocating or expanding companies will get its first airing tonight at the Hilton in downtown Hartford for about 200 invited guests.

It's a marketing tool, funded at a cost of $75,000 by the city and produced by the Central Regional Tourism District. And it draws on some high-powered local talent.

Ramani Ayer, chairman and CEO of The Hartford, stresses the pool of educated workers turned out locally, noting a concentration of 35 colleges and universities between Northampton, Mass, and New Haven.

Dona D. Young, chairman, president and CEO of The Phoenix Cos., weighs in on the quality of life and the short commutes.

The DVD comes at a tough time for the city, in some ways. Rising property taxes have small business owners up in arms. The Front Street residential and retail development that is supposed to complement the convention center is languishing. A lack of progress on Front Street, combined with money woes, has helped sour the Wadsworth Atheneum on an ambitious expansion.

Sarah Barr, a spokeswoman for Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez, said problems in the city don't erase the reality that there is now a buzz about Hartford.

"The city of Hartford is believing in itself," Barr said.