reSET Introduces Benefit Corporations to Connecticut’s Newest Coworking Space, Rise Center in New London

New London, Conn. – A new type of business entity has taken root in twenty-six states and will become legal in Connecticut on October 1st, The Benefit Corporation (more often referred to as B-Corp) form designates for-profit business that have a social or environmental mission. reSET Social Enterprise Trust, a Hartford-based organization promoting social enterprise, helped move a B-Corp bill through the CT state legislature in May of this year. reSET will be in New London on Thursday September 18th from 6:30 to 8 PM with the law firm Murtha Cullina LLP. to present about the Benefit Corporation structure at Rise Center, a new co-working space located at 279 State Street Suite A, New London, CT.

Rise Center is the most recent co-working space to open in Connecticut and offers business support, collaboration opportunities, and shared workspace for entrepreneurs, start-ups & existing businesses in Southeastern CT.

reSET’s Public Policy Specialist, James Woulfe and James McLaughlin of Murtha Cullina LLP., will outline the process of becoming and operating as a Benefit Corporation in Connecticut and identify the rules and regulations, proposed and adopted, surrounding this new form of corporation. Both new and existing businesses can incorporate as a B-Corp.

One of the goals for the visit down to New London is to help a few businesses be ready to incorporate on October 1st. reSET and Murtha have been working diligently across the state to get as many businesses ready to go for this first day. James Woulfe from reSET: “Connecticut is positioned to break the national record for having the most Benefit Corporations registered in any state on day one of its legal existence. It’s through opportunities like the one at Rise Center that we are able to bring awareness to this new kind of corporation, which will have a significant impact in Connecticut’s communities.”

About reSET

Social Enterprise Trust, commonly known as reSET, is a Hartford-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote, preserve and protect social enterprise as a viable concept and a business reality.

reSET offers an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and a Business Advisor Network, the Social Enterprise Lean LaunchPad program and technical workshops, ongoing Design Labs and sponsors the annual Social Enterprise Challenge and Awards. reSET also offers coworking space at 99 Pratt Street in Hartford, and provides community programs and resources. The space welcomes start-ups and small businesses, freelancers, nonprofit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and visiting business people who use both fixed desk and flexible seating arrangements.

Since January 2013, reSET has worked with 114 entrepreneurs, of whom 14 businesses are fully operational, and associated with 11 jobs.

Contact Information:

James Woulfe Phone: 860-560-9120 ext. 204 Jwoulfe@socialenterprisetrust.org