(a) The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall develop a “CONNECTICUT-MADE” or “CT-Made” logo and make such logo available to Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products through an Internet web site that shall allow such manufacturers and producers to promote their products that are made or produced in Connecticut. The commissioner shall develop guidelines for the use of such logo in any branding efforts by such manufacturers and producers that may include: (1) The types of products and specifications for such products that may be branded as “CONNECTICUT-MADE” or “CT-Made”; and (2) the ability of such a manufacturer or producer to alter such logo’s proportions or colors. Any state agency, quasi-public agency or other public or private institution may promote such Internet web site and logo. The commissioner shall not contract with any third party to carry out the provisions of this subsection.

(b) The commissioner may, within available appropriations, establish and administer a program to promote the marketing of products produced in Connecticut for the purpose of encouraging the development of manufacturing and production in the state. As part of said program, the commissioner may (1) provide for the design, plan and implementation of a multiyear, state-wide marketing and advertising campaign, including, but not limited to, television and radio advertisements, promoting the availability of, and advantages of purchasing, Connecticut-made products, (2) establish and continuously update an Internet web site connected with such advertising campaign that includes, but is not limited to, a comprehensive listing of Connecticut manufacturers, Connecticut-made products and Connecticut retailers selling Connecticut-made products, (3) direct Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products in need of assistance to the appropriate economic development entity or state agency, and (4) conduct efforts to promote interaction and business relationships between Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products and retailers, marketers, chambers of commerce, regional tourism districts and other potential institutional purchasers of Connecticut-made products, including, but not limited to, (A) linking Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products with potential purchasers through a separate feature of the Internet web site established pursuant to this section, and (B) organizing state-wide or regional events promoting Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products, where such manufacturers, producers and institutional purchasers are invited to participate. The commissioner shall use his or her best efforts to solicit cooperation and participation from Connecticut manufacturers, producers of Connecticut-made products, retailers, marketers, chambers of commerce and regional tourism districts in such advertising, Internet-related and event planning efforts, including, but not limited to, soliciting private sector matching funds.

(c) The commissioner may adopt such regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as he or she deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 206; P.A. 17-132, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 17-132 added provisions re development of logo and guidelines for use of logo and designated such provisions as Subsec. (a), designated existing provisions re promotion and marketing of products produced in Connecticut as Subsec. (b) and amended same to replace “shall” with “may” re establishment and administration of program, delete provision re grant-in-aid, replace “The commissioner shall” with “the commissioner may” re marketing and advertising campaign, delete provisions re report, designated existing provisions re adoption of regulations as Subsec. (c), and made technical and conforming changes.