HARTFORD (AP) — Outgoing Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is defending his job creation record, saying multimillion-dollar state investments are bearing fruit.

The Democrat made the comments Tuesday following his final meeting of the State Bond Commission, which he has chaired for the past eight years. The panel has approved numerous grants and loans to help attract, grow, and sustain businesses in Connecticut. Such financial assistance was criticized during the recent governor's race.

Malloy says the state has assisted more than 100 companies this year that have promised to retain nearly 24,000 jobs and add 11,000 more, calling it "real and substantial progress."

Connecticut has recovered about 90 percent of the jobs lost during the 2008-2010 recession. Malloy attributes the remaining 10 percent to the downsizing of state and local government, which he supports.