Eastern CT: Looking Forward to a Positive, Productive 2019
It was no coincidence that our new governor, Ned Lamont, picked New London for his first official trip since winning in November 2018. He came to talk about economic development and told those gathered to greet him that he wanted to visit a part of the state that has the wind at its back.
New London and, indeed, all of eastern Connecticut, are being pushed forward by economic forces that are reaching into virtually all our communities, creating jobs, and making the quality of life here even better.
The Connecticut Port Authority has put New London at the center of its ambitious plans to expand our maritime economy, with significant infrastructure improvements in the pipeline.
Consider just a few other examples:
• General Dynamics Electric Boat has nearly $8 billion in contracts to build nuclear submarines and a workforce of more than 16,000, a 25-year high. That also means work for the 446 smaller Connecticut companies that supply parts for this important piece of our national defense.
• A major offshore wind project is poised to get underway, with the State Pier in New London as the likely staging area.
• Not all the economic activity is confined to the shoreline. The Morgan Corporation, a large Pennsylvania-based company that makes medium-duty truck bodies, recently began production in Plainfield. When it announced its plans early in 2018, the company said it planned to create 140 well-paying jobs.
• Another Pennsylvania company, A.R. Building, has invested heavily in our region. It completed a 104-unit apartment complex (60 Mansfield Road) in New London in 2018 and recently broke ground for another apartment project that is almost as large.
These organizations are investing heavily in our region because they see a future that is full of potential. And, at the risk of stating the obvious, that is good news.
As important as the high-profile companies are to the economy, small businesses continue to play a key role throughout the region, as evidenced by our regular ribbon cutting ceremonies to recognize these new business owners who form the backbone of our economy.
We at the Chamber, along with our many partners, work tirelessly to improve the business climate throughout the region. It is an ideal time for us all to commit to an ongoing effort to improve regional prosperity and to take advantage of our opportunities for sharing our good fortune with all the citizens of eastern Connecticut.
Tony Sheridan
President & CEO
Chamber of Commerce of Eastern CT