David Griggs
Title: President and CEO, MetroHartford Alliance
Age: 51
Experience: 20 years in economic development
The MetroHartford Alliance has named David Griggs as the organization’s new CEO and president. Griggs, who began his role on March 12, replaced Oz Gabriel, who stepped down from the post after 16 years and is now running for governor. The MetroHartford Alliance is the region’s leading business and economic development organization that includes more than 1,000 businesses, municipalities and organizations among its membership ranks. The organization supports pro-growth legislation, helps local companies expand, assists startups, encourages government investment in key infrastructure assets, develops programs for young professionals and recruits companies from other states to create a presence in the region. Griggs comes to the alliance after serving for more than six years as vice president of business investment and research at the Greater Minneapolis St. Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, a public-private nonprofit focused on job growth and investment in 16 counties. The organization has helped create over 25,000 new jobs and managed nearly $4 million in capital investment. The Commercial Record caught up with Griggs to discuss his new position.
Q: So what made you want to come to Hartford and take this role and what excites you about the role now that you’re here?
A: It was the opportunity to work with a region that is highly motivated to do new things. The reception so far has been fabulous. The direction the organization is taking has been extremely well received and the region itself is similar in some regard to Minneapolis in that it’s got some globally leading industries that can help attract not only talent, but new investment into the region.
Q: What issues are you looking to focus on?
A: Well, our board has made it clear that they want the organization to focus more on economic development. So that means attracting new jobs and investment here to our region. One of the first steps I need to take is to have great research to help identify and tell the story about who we are so that we’re using a story that’s based around the industries.
At the heart of economic development is job creation. Like I mentioned, the mission in Minneapolis St. Paul was very similar to the mission we have here, which is to accelerate job growth and capital investment at the same time. So part of doing that is obviously telling our story on the global scale, making sure that the businesses and business influencers that we need know who we are as a region.
Q: Recently, Infosys announced they are going to build a new tech hub in Hartford and create 1,000 jobs, which is a pretty big deal for the region. With some companies recently leaving, how big is this announcement now and how will it help the region leverage more business to the region?
A: Obviously anyone we can bring here is a great win. This one in particular validates a lot of what we already know about our region that it is highly productive and has a highly skilled workforce with tech talent. It’s not only great news for us as a region and for our future employment, but also a validation to what our story is.
The MetroHartford alliance has business leaders on our board of directors and we have direct access to our business community, so as Infosys looks to ingrain themselves into our region and become the great corporate partner that we believe they will be, the MetroHartford Alliance will play a key role in helping them settle in.
Q: What are your thoughts on the state covering $550 million of Hartford’s debt? How will it help the region in terms of economic development and getting back on the right track?
A: I am still relatively new to all of this and trying to get my bearings, but what I can say is that I’m extremely impressed with the tact that Mayor Luke Bronin is taking by addressing this issue head on and trying to formulate solutions that are long-term. I think we’ve got the political leadership that we need in the city to see our way through this.
Griggs’ Five Tips for Telling a Region’s Global Story
- FOCUS on one or two specialized industries
- FOCUS on targeted geographic exporter partners
- FOCUS on appropriate mediums to reach targeted audiences
- FOCUS on being there – visit companies in their own backyard
- FOCUS on ensuring local population has the tools needed to convey messaging – They travel!
