The state has made a second investment in a local chemical testing company developing a credit card-sized device that measures the biomarkers that indicate disease or some other biological state of an organism.

CyVek Inc., located on Barnes Industrial Road South, received $445,683 from Connecticut Innovations, the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for technology-based innovation and economic development. CyVek previously received $802,500 in 2010 from CI.

The state’s investment is part of $3 million in recent funding made primarily by individual investors the company already had.

CyVek is completing development on technology to measure markers in patient blood samples. Doreen DeSarro, Wallingford’s business recruiter, said she was pleased to see the state make another investment in a local firm.

The team was created in response to what First Niagara said it perceived as a “significant, unfulfilled market opportunity to serve small businesses in the region with the same level of expertise and support that is often provided to middle market and larger companies.”  The team will be comprised of seven members and will work with local businesses under $2 million in sales, presenting and explaining the services and resources available to meet their individual business needs, and offering them ongoing financial services support and advice as they pursue their goals, according to a statement.

Joining the team are Jorge De La Rosa of New Haven; Bill Hice of Hamden; Gus Kasparis of Fairfield; Mayra Santiago of New Britain; Robert Torres of Middletown; and David Williams of Newington. First Niagara announced the addition of West Springfield, Mass.-based Jason Rivera to the team in March. They will report to John M. Delgadillo of Vernon, newly appointed vice president of small business banking for the New England region.

“As we looked to expand our small business banking services throughout New England, we identified several First Niagara branch managers that possessed the strong sales and leadership skills that are necessary to grow our operations,” First Niagara New England Regional President David Ring said in a statement.  “Under John’s direction, we are certain that the team we have assembled will help cultivate our relationships with both existing and new small business clients, and will provide them with superior service and expert advice to help them develop their own operations.”

First Niagara Financial Group has completed a $4.5 million commercial mortgage refinancing loan with the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, officials with the Buffalo, N.Y.-based bank that has a regional headquarters in New Haven said Thursday.

The loan from First Niagara Bank will be used to refinance existing debt and provide new working capital, allowing the owners of the River Road sports facility to expand the complex into other areas of sports and entertainment.

“As local business owners, my colleagues and I were looking for a bank that was large enough to offer us a financing solution at competitive rates, while also providing personal attention and guidance,” said Alan Philips, owner of the Sports Center of Connecticut.

The Sports Center of Connecticut is home to the Rinks at Shelton, which is the official practice facility of the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It also houses a golf center with a two level year-round golf driving range, putting green and 18-hole miniature golf course, as well as bowling lanes, baseball/softball batting cages and a video arcade.

First Niagara New England Regional President David Ring said the bank saw the commercial mortgage loan to become involved in a facility that draws more than 1.5 million visitors from Connecticut and neighboring states each year.

“The success of the Sports Center has always been a direct result of the imagination and expertise of its owners,” Ring said.

First Niagara has more than 330 branches and 5,000 employees serving customers in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The initiative, launched by the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority and the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, provides Connecticut communities with the opportunity to support clean, renewable energy and earn free clean energy systems.

The workshop will run from 5 to 7 p.m. at the White Memorial Conservation Center at 80 Whitehall Road, off Route 202.

Dinner and refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Diana McCarthy-Bercury at mccard@nu.com or call 860-665-5061.

You could say that Connecticut’s tired of losing its young tech students and isn’t going to take it anymore. Being so close to New York City, one of the hottest tech job markets out there, certainly poses a challenge.

But Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public agency, is offering small, technology-based businesses in the state up to $25,000 to take on a college intern or team of students to solve some technical problem that can be addressed in three to nine months. The money is to be used to pay the students, so don’t even think about offering an unpaid internship. The projects are to begin this summer or fall and continue in subsequent semesters. Companies have to outline their proposed projects in their applications.

Called the Technology Talent Bridge Program, the idea is to forge ties between potential employers and students before they graduate to encourage them to stay in the state, to provide real-world experience and to create jobs. It’s certainly not unique to Connecticut. For all the tech talent educated in Massachusetts and the opportunities there, employers there are working hard to engage with students early.

According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, employers plan to hire 8.5 percent more interns this year. And it recently reported that interns in engineering ($18.54 an hour) and computer science ($17.77) command the biggest paychecks among college students, reflecting the demand for them. Since it’s so close to summer now and savvy students have been shaking the bushes for internships for a couple of months now, this program actually doesn’t offer employers much time.

“Our annual Book & Author Luncheon is a well-loved tradition here at East Hill, and is a great way for people to enjoy readings from well-known local authors.” said Rhoda Ashley, East Hill resident and Chairperson of the event. “All of the money raised goes to the East Hill Library Fund, so that residents can continue to learn and grow for years to come.”

Reich has been making quilts since childhood and has written two books on the art of quilt making. She also co-wrote the book Quilts and Quiltmakers Covering Connecticut. Reich has also appraised quilts and was a guest curator at several museums including the New England Quilt Museum. Reich has also lectured at the Quilter’s Hall of Fame and served as chairperson for several quilt guild shows.

Atkins is known for writing the Barrett Conyors forensic thriller series but has also recently released a new series called Vultures at Twilight, featuring two female sleuths. Atkins writes both fiction and non-fiction. He is a board-certified psychiatrist and member of the Yale Clinical Faculty. Atkins has published two non-fiction books on Bipolar Disorder and Alzheimer’s disease and is a contributor to the American Medical Association’s American Medical News.

Ware, a resident of The Watermark at East Hill, is an accomplished author, publishing six novels, one children’s book, and three books on rug collecting.  Her fictional work includes the gothic novel The Lost Heiress of Hawkscliffe and the more mainstream romance novel, Colorado High. Her children’s e-book, The Dragon Whisperer, is her first book aimed at children ages 8 to 12. In addition to her fictional work, Ware also has an interest in oriental rugs and has written three original guides on rug collecting. 

Guests are encouraged to RSVP by May 2. Receipt of your $25.00 per person donation will confirm your reservation. Checks can be made payable to the East Hill Library Fund, Attn: Cecily Goodman, 219 Birchwood, Southbury, CT 06488.

For questions, please call 203-262-6868.

About The Watermark at East Hill: 

The Watermark at East Hill, situated on 55 acres overlooking the Pomperaug River Valley in Southbury, CT, is a distinctive community for seniors, offering exceptional independent living, assisted living, skilled rehabilitation and memory care. The Watermark at East Hill is
professionally managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, a company committed to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive. For more
information, please visit www.watermarkcommunities.com/EastHill.

A group representing Hispanic merchants in Connecticut is the beneficiary of a three-year, $150,000 grant from First Niagara Bank that will support computer training for low- and moderate income business owners.

The grant to the Spanish American Merchants Association will go to fund the group’s Empresario Computer Training Program, which is offered at the organization’s offices in New Haven, Hartford and Willimantic.

“Spanish-American small-business owners make a valuable contribution to our state’s overall economy, and Empresario has proved to be the state’s premier training program serving this constituency,” First Niagara New England Regional President Dave Ring said in a written statement. “First Niagara is thrilled to have the opportunity to help support SAMA’s efforts, as we work together to encourage small-business growth across the state.”

SAMA Board of Directors President Angel Sierra said many small-business owners “lack the training necessary to incorporate technology into their day-to-day business operations.”

The Empresario training program includes classes on several Microsoft software programs and the Quickbooks accounting program. Classes are offered twice a year in each of SAMA’s offices.

SAMA has more than 300 members, and since 1994 has loaned more than $11.8 million to new and existing businesses. It has also provided technical assistance to more than 4,000 businesses.

First Niagara has more than 330 branches and 5,000 employees in Connecticut and three other states.

Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706 or follow him on Twitter @LutherTurmelle. To receive breaking news first, simply text the word NHNEWS to 22700. *Msg & Data Rates May Apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.