First Selectman Mike Tetreau joined five other Mayors and First Selectmen from around Connecticut at the State Capitol this morning to announce a first-ever Statewide Summit for business, government, labor, education and social service leaders to brainstorm on the best common pathways for Connecticut’s economic future.

The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) chose First Selectman Tetreau to serve on a bi-partisan mayoral Steering Committee which will help oversee the planning of the Project B.E.S.T. (Bringing Every Stakeholder Together) Summit which will be held in November. CCM chose First Selectman Tetreau as one of six Mayors from around the State based on his leadership, skills and experience.

CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong stated, "First Selectman Tetreau's commitment to make Project B.E.S.T. a reality has been paramount to pulling together this diverse group of stakeholders for the first time. If not for his input and vision, we would not have the broad range of participation this summit will benefit from."

In addition to First Selectman Tetreau, Connecticut democratic and republican officials serving on the Steering Committee include Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of Ridgefield, Michael Frieda, First Selectman of North Haven, Mark Boughton, Mayor of Danbury, Patricia Llodra, First Selectman of Newtown, and Philip Schenck, Town Manager of Bloomfield.

Representatives from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA) and the Connecticut AFL-CIO were also present at today’s announcement. These three statewide organizations and the Steering Committee will partner for the first time to hold this one of kind summit to bring together a group of key policy leaders and stakeholders from across Connecticut. Over 100 Connecticut leaders will brainstorm on the best pathways to a brighter economic future for Connecticut by focusing on critical issues such as Revenue and Governance; Transportation and Infrastructure; Education and Workforce Development; Quality of Life Issues; and Regional Solutions.

First Selectman Tetreau said, “I am thrilled to be selected as part of the leadership for this initiative. This is all about making progress on serious issues affecting our State. This group of stakeholders care deeply about these issues, understand the impact of these issues and are committed to finding solutions.”

“The Summit’s goal is to build a workable consensus from the full group on ways to improve Connecticut’s economic and community vitality,” noted Joe Brennan, CBIA President.

“Bringing together CCM, CBIA and the CT AFL-CIO, Connecticut's largest labor organization, is unprecedented and will ensure the best policy leaders come to the table for this critical, first-time event,” said Lori Pelletier, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Connecticut AFL-CIO.