News

Presidential yacht Sequoia makes stop in New London

Thursday, October 17, 2019

The former presidential yacht Sequoia, a National Historic Landmark that hosted presidential cocktail parties and sit-downs with world leaders under eight presidents, made a surprise visit to the Whaling City on Wednesday. The 104-foot “floating White House” was on its way from Maryland to a boatyard in Belfast, Maine, for a stem-to-stern, museum-quality restoration when it sought refuge from the upcoming storm. Click here for the full article

North Stonington, Groton top list for economic growth in CT

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Farmtrue in North Stonington produces Ghee at its Route 2 studio. “It’s used as a cooking oil,” explained company co-founder Kim Welch. “It’s great for digestion.” The ayurveda lifestyle company founded by Welch, along with Lynn Goodwin, is one of several new businesses including Jovial Foods, which have moved into town and long vacant spaces. “The amount of land that was available and how heavily trafficked the area is, there was a lot of potential here,” said Welch. Click here for the full article

Town of Groton’s longtime inspector to oversee construction of Electric Boat’s new building

Monday, October 07, 2019

Groton — Over more than three decades serving the Town of Groton, Kevin Quinn has seen the community grow, from new commercial buildings being constructed to neighborhoods taking shape. Now, after 32 years with the town — and 16 as its manager of inspection services — Quinn has retired and is starting the biggest project he has ever overseen. Click here for the full article

13 Connecticut communities to receive $13M in housing grants

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Thirteen communities across Connecticut are on tap to receive $13 million in federal grants aimed at helping smaller cities modernize and rehabilitate housing. Gov. Ned Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno this week announced that the grants are designed to help improve housing for low and moderate-income individuals. Click here for the full article

Cooperative Leads with Environmental Stewardship & Provides Delicious Oysters in Groton

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Operating on the docks of Groton’s Noank village, the Noank Aquaculture Cooperative is cultivating oysters and growing the local oyster population. Their sustainable practices are providing East Coast customers with delicious oysters to eat, and locals with the opportunity to continue their traditions. Founded in 2000 by a group of Groton’s oyster farmers, it has since expanded to include members from Long Island, NY. Their goal is to work together to cultivate the finest oysters for the Northeast region. Jim Markow and Karen Rivara, the owners of member-Aeros, created the cooperative so that Groton’s aquaculture businesses would have access to ...

Women leaders in community offer frank thoughts on career paths, challenges

Monday, September 23, 2019

Kate Farrar realizes that people may look at her LinkedIn page or resume and see a "very well-planned and plotted path" to her current position as executive director of the Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund. But that's not the case. Click here for the full article

Electric Boat embarks on biggest construction project in more than 45 years

Friday, September 20, 2019

Electric Boat on Friday marked the start of a major construction project — the biggest to take place in its Groton shipyard in more than 45 years — that will enable the company to build the next class of ballistic missile submarines at the same time it is churning out attack submarines. Click here for the full article

Groton self-defense academy focuses on individual life lessons

Friday, September 20, 2019

Groton — Marcus Knight loved martial arts since he began practicing as a child growing up in Groton, when his father signed him up for classes at age 12. As a shy kid, Knight said martial arts gave him a place where he could gain confidence in himself. Training each night, week after week at Gabrieles Martial Arts in Groton, he improved his skills and not only saw physical benefits, but also built discipline and focus. Click here for the full article

With new tool, Groton looks to revitalize Thames Street, Five Corners areas

Friday, September 20, 2019

City Mayor Keith Hedrick says the city now has "another tool in our toolbox" to spur economic development on Thames Street and in the Five Corners area. A Tax Increment Financing District, which is intended to help with economic development and revitalization, will go into effect at the end of the month for that area, City Planner Dennis Goderre said. Click here for the full article

Connecticut: 10th Happiest State in the Nation. Really.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Happy is not often a word associated with residents of Connecticut. So it may come as a surprise to many that Connecticut is the 10th happiest state in the nation, according to a new analysis considering a range of variables. Categories from public safety to suicide rate, divorce rate to adequate sleep, volunteerism to hours worked were included. In order to determine the happiest states in America, the financial website WalletHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Emotional & Physical Well-Being, 2) Work Environment and 3) Community & Environment. They evaluated those dimensions using 31 relevant metrics. The to...

Joe Courtney: New submarine facility will define Connecticut’s economy

Friday, September 13, 2019

On Friday, a ceremonial groundbreaking will represent the start of construction of a facility that will help define the economy of Connecticut and southern New England for decades to come. The $800 million production facility for the Columbia-class submarine program is a generational enterprise that has and will employ thousands of trades workers, engineers, designers and planners to replace a critical fleet of aging Ohio-class submarines that have been on patrol for over 40 years. The new submarines are the U.S. Navy’s top acquisition priority, and on-time delivery is a vital part of our nuclear deterrent force that has been o...

Having a Baby? Connecticut’s a Great Place, Data Shows

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

If having a baby is on your agenda, Connecticut is among the best places to be. The state ranks in the top ten, as do four other New England states. The financial website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 30 key measures of cost, health care accessibility, as well as baby- and family-friendliness. The data included in the analysis ranges from hospital conventional-delivery charges to annual average infant-care costs to pediatricians per capita. The top ten: Vermont, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Washington, Colorado, Connecticut and Utah. Read full article.

Community Speaks Out founder receives award from New England Patriots Foundation

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Community Speaks Out co-founder and President Tammy de la Cruz has received a $10,000 check along with an official football designating her as a most valuable player from the New England Patriots Foundation. The Groton nonprofit provides assistance, support and education to people and families struggling with addiction. Click here for the full article

New defense secretary touts submarines’ role in power struggle

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Defense Secretary Mark Esper, a month into the job, toured Electric Boat on Tuesday, including a walkthrough of the Navy's newest attack submarine, USS South Dakota, which is undergoing a major upgrade to make the already stealthy submarine even quieter in response to continued advancement by China and Russia in their undersea fleets. Esper's focus of late has been on China, which is increasingly staking a claim in the Indo-Pacific region, and which recently tested multiple anti-ship ballistic missiles. He told a crowd at the Naval War College in Newport earlier in the day that the Pentagon is looking at ways to increase its presenc...

Oyster companies propose restoring Thames Street pier

Friday, August 16, 2019

Groton — Two oyster companies are proposing to restore a pier and vacant property at Thames Street as a spot to stage their boats for their Thames River operations and safely store vessels during storms. Norm Bloom and Son and Aeros Cultured Oysters, both members of the Noank Aquaculture Cooperative and working to make shellfish beds in the Thames River productive again, are partnering on the plan for the vacant site at 107 Thames St. at the bottom of Broad Street. The site once served as a boatyard with a marine railway for hauling boats and a wooden pier, according to the application filed with the city. The city's Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site pla...

General Dynamics Wins $15.2M Shipbuilding Deal for SSN 787

Monday, August 12, 2019

General Dynamics Corporation’s GD business division, Electric Boat, recently secured a contract worth $15.2 million for planning, material procurement and conducting repair work of USS Washington (SSN 787). The contract was awarded by the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Groton, CT. Work related to the deal will be carried out in Groton, CT, and is scheduled to be over by December 2019. Read full article.

Best Practices in Land Use & Economic Development Certification Launched

Thursday, August 01, 2019

‘Best Practices in Land Use and Economic Development’ by municipalities in Connecticut will soon be able to earn recognition through a new industry certification program aimed at highlighting outstanding practices. The Connecticut Economic Development Association (CEDAS) is launching the program, in collaboration with Connecticut Economic Development Association, Connecticut Economic Resource Center, the Connecticut Chapter of the American Planning Association, and the University of Connecticut-Department of Extension, and sponsors Eversource, UI, CNG, SCG, Pullman & Comley, and STV/DPM. The new accreditation is a strategy for sharing information on planning policies and aims to serve as a catalyst for economic development in Connecticut. Rea...

Groton launches efforts for complete count in 2020 Census

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Groton — Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz stood alongside local officials and community members to share the message that every person should be counted in the 2020 Census and that local efforts will be vital in getting the word out that the census is important and safe. At the event at the Groton Town Hall Annex, Groton officials announced that the town and city each are forming a Complete Count Committee that will partner with local constituencies and reach out to the community about the importance of completing the census. Bysiewicz said the state's Complete Count Committee, which launched in February, includes more than 100 organizations that are partnering in the effort to ensure the state is participatin...

LBI Corp: Making Waves in Groton!

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Groton has many unique businesses thriving in the community. LBI Corp is one of them and unique doesn’t begin to do them justice. LBI Corp is an Engineering and Manufacturing company that specializes in research and product development for marine systems. Founded in May 1971 by Peter Legnos, the company has over 48 years of experience in the development of autonomous marine systems, specifically developing marine systems that can handle harsh marine environments. With decades of experience, they have valuable knowledge about materials, composites, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems to emerging technologies. They provide these valuable services to the United States Department of Defense, th...

MW Coastal Goods is a Local Groton Gem!

Friday, June 07, 2019

For Mike and Wendy Hille life has taken some interesting turns to lead them to their dream business. Currently located dockside in the Noank region of Groton, Connecticut, this business has become a local favorite. But interestingly enough, this serene dockside business started out as a simple idea between the two. According to his wife, Wendy, Mike Hille has a talent for manufacturing, making furniture, and other artisan work. Being an avid fisherman, Mike had the idea to handcraft his own fishing lures. Wendy then had the idea to turn them into bottle openers and in 2012, MW Coastal Good...

Quality of Life is Back

Thursday, June 06, 2019

In today's world, multi-family development and residential housing options across the United States are becoming as important in the corporate site selection process as workforce availability and incentives. There was a period in time when multi-family communal area amenities may have consisted of a small fitness center, a laundry room, and maybe a pool; and that would've been sufficient for prospective tenants. This is no longer the case in 2019. To attract prospective tenants (which will mostly consist of members from the millennial and baby-boomer generations) to market rate residential options, developers are having to design projects with resident communal expectations i...

The State of Tourism

Monday, June 03, 2019

If anyone has doubts as to the impact of tourism on the Connecticut economy, they may be assuaged by the impressive numbers* presented at the Connecticut Conference on Tourism: $2.2 billion in tax revenue, including $960 million in state and local taxes 84,254 jobs directly related to tourism; 123,521 total jobs when including support activities $15.5 billion in total business sales, a 5.5% increase since the last study (2015) 6.7% increase in traveler spending over 2015, up 12.2% over the past 5 years Tourism is Connecticut’s 8th largest employer and may boast 7 years of consecutive growth To an audience of professionals who work across the state i...

Study: CT beer industry generates $3.1B economic impact

Saturday, June 01, 2019

Connecticut’s beer industry continues to be a major boon to the state’s economy, according to a new study. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute said it conducted a joint study that shows Connecticut’s beer industry contributes $3.1 billion annually to the state’s economy. That represents a major increase compared to the $745.7 million economic impact the industry generated in 2017, according to estimates provided by the Brewers Association, which represents two-thirds of breweries in Connecticut. Read full article.

The Best States for New College Graduates To Start a Life

Monday, May 13, 2019

For recent grads, some states are better than others. Graduating from college initiates a time of great change. Finding a job and starting a new life postgraduate represents a big step into adulthood. It’s also significantly more or less difficult depending on where you live. That’s because being aware of the best places to live after college can make figuring out where to find a job, affording an apartment and even where to buy your first home that much easier. That’s why GOBankingRates conducted a study to look at all the different potential factors that might impact that decision, including the cost of rent...

12 entrepreneurial projects pitched for CTNext funding

Thursday, May 02, 2019

Groton — With visions of a co-working and incubator space in New London, a resource to help high-school students find job shadows, art and events in Hodges Square, a farm to re-integrate veterans into the workforce, and a private "micro-school," 12 people are making the case for why their 12 projects should get a share of public-private funding that will likely be under $1 million. CTNext, a public-private network that supports entrepreneurs, is entering the third year of funding for its four designated Innovation Places: New Haven, Hartford/East Hartford, Stamford and Thames River. Read full article.

CT manufacturing wage growth outpaces most other industries

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Connecticut manufacturers are full of anecdotes about how they use higher-than-average starting wages to attract and retain younger talent, to replace experienced and aging workers they lose to competitors and retirement. Now, the state Department of Labor has accumulated and analyzed salary data for thousands of manufacturing workers in the state and compared it to pay for all other industries combined. Not surprisingly, the Connecticut wage data amassed by the U.S. Census Bureau and shared with DOL economists show the state's manufacturing workers in the last 10 years, from Dec. 2007 to Dec. 2017 (the latest available data), saw their average monthl...

North Stonington, Groton again top Connecticut list for economic growth

Friday, October 11, 2019

North Stonington and Groton saw the fastest economic growth from 2010 to 2018 in their respective size categories, according to the recently updated Connecticut Town Economic Indexes from the state Department of Labor. Click here for the full article

Murphy tours Grasso Tech, says career-based education is Connecticut’s future

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

Ella T. Grasso Technical High School Senior Ramon Morales told Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., during a roundtable on Tuesday that the school gave him the opportunity to further his career. Morales, who is in the electrical trade at the school, said that after graduation he plans to continue to be an apprentice and then apply the skills he's learned to the U.S. Navy, likely as a technician on a submarine. Click here for the full article

Navy’s newest attack submarine is christened as crowd of 6,000 looks on

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

The christening of the future Navy attack submarine Oregon drew about 6,000 people Saturday to Electric Boat's shipyard, which is about to undergo a major expansion to accommodate a buildup in submarine construction. Attendees packed the big green construction bay on the Groton waterfront, where five different submarines are under construction, to watch ship sponsor Dana Richardson crack a bottle of sparkling wine from Dayton, Oregon, chilled in a bucket of water from the state's Crater Lake, across the bow of the submarine. Click here for the full article

New Groton Town Police dog is focused on helping officers, community

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

As Groton Town Police Officer Heather McClelland chatted with a resident at the Groton Public Library on Thursday, McClelland petted the department’s new service dog, McDonald, who was snuggled up next to her. “Want to come sit next to me and pet him?” McClelland asked the resident’s 3-year-old son, and the child walked over from his mother’s lap to McDonald and smiled as he petted the black lab. Click here for the full article

More than $2 million awarded for seaweed, shellfish projects

Thursday, September 26, 2019

More than $2 million in federal grants has been awarded to a Connecticut program to help create a clearinghouse for seaweed aquaculture research and promote southern New England shellfish aquaculture. Connecticut Sea Grant, based at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus, will also be a contributor to two additional projects involving the development of model state legislation for seaweed sales and building a diverse seafood processing workforce. Click here for the full article

Electric Boat embarks on biggest construction project in more than 45 years

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Groton self-defense academy focuses on individual life lessons

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Electric Boat embarks on biggest construction project in more than 45 years

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Electric Boat embarks on biggest construction project in more than 45 years

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Groton self-defense academy focuses on individual life lessons

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Holy Toledo! Sub comes home

Friday, September 13, 2019

Groton — The crew members of the U.S. Navy Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) were reunited Thursday, when the sub returned to the Naval Submarine Base in Groton. Click here for the full article

At new building, officials highlight Grasso Tech’s role in preparing workforce

Friday, September 06, 2019

Celebrating the new Ella T. Grasso Technical High School building, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday that it's a remarkable time to be a student there. He encouraged students, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new facility, to pursue a career they love and told them that they will acquire at Grasso Tech the extraordinary skill set they need. Click here for the full article

Thames River Heritage Park is a hit with visitors

Friday, September 06, 2019

The water taxis that have been making their way between New London and Groton since Memorial Day have had record-level ridership and have become a great summer success story, a story that should be told. The taxis, one named Groton, the other New London, are operated by the Thames River Heritage Park. They offer hop-on, hop-off service and, new this year, a number of themed tours that relate to our region’s rich heritage, which have sold out since we launched them. Click here for the full article

Property tax exemptions available for veterans living in Groton

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

The assessor’s office has issued a reminder to all Groton residents that veteran exemptions are available for property taxes. The last filing day for a veteran exemption for the 2019 Grand List is Sept. 30, 2019. Widows and widowers also may be entitled to veteran exemptions. An original or certified copy of an honorable discharge, or DD214, must be recorded with the town clerk’s office. To receive an exemption, the individual must be a resident of Groton and have served 90 or more cumulative days, except where the war lasted less than 90 days. Click here for the full article

Learning about subs in Groton

Monday, May 20, 2019

Groton — Students from Griswold Middle School were visiting the Submarine Force Library and Museum and Historic Ship Nautilus during a field trip. Read full article.

Officials Hopeful For Development Progress On Connecticut’s 72 ‘Opportunity Zone’ Sites

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Development officials in Connecticut say they are expecting to be making substantial progress by the end of 2019 in marketing the state’s 72 federally designated Opportunity Zone sites. The IRS recently released an updated set of regulations for investors in Opportunity Zone sites that clarify procedures under a tax benefit program established by the White House in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The program is designed to encourage private investment in lower-income areas around the country. Connecticut has Opportunity Zone sites in 27 towns from the largest cities like Hartford, New Have, and Waterbury to mid-sized and small communitie...

CT Ranks 3rd Among States for Working Mothers, Analysis Finds

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The best place to be for working mothers is the Northeast, as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont took the top four rankings in a new analysis. Connecticut, which placed third, in the overall rankings, made the top 10 in all three categories, ranking 3rd in Child Care, 5th in Work-Life Balance, and 10th in Professional Opportunities. The state was one of only three to earn top-10 rankings in all three. The analysis, by the financial website WalletHub, compared state dynamics across 16 key metrics – grouped into the three categories - to identify the Best & Worst States for Working Moms. Rea...

Marketing Ourselves to Businesses

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Recently the Hartford Business Journal discussed tourism in Connecticut and the potential need to rebrand the state—again. This has caused many to question the sizable investment in repeated branding efforts and the return on those investments. As we think about how Connecticut brands itself in the tourism industry, we also must think about how we market ourselves to businesses. Active engagement with site selectors and active pursuit of companies is critical to growing as a state. As we have these opportunities, we are able to share Connecticut’s value proposition. My colleague Erron and I recently had the opportunity to participate in the Site Selector...

Women from Pfizer, Sonalysts honored for innovation and mentorship

Friday, April 26, 2019

Four employees of Pfizer and one of Sonalysts are among the 50 people whose mentoring of others, leadership and innovation have gotten them named as finalists for the 15th Annual Women of Innovation awards, a program of the Connecticut Technology Council. There were 190 nominations this year. A winner in each of 11 categories will be announced at a gala at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville on March 27. The keynote speaker for the event is Annie Lamont, health care venture capitalist and first lady of Connecticut. Three of the 10 finalists in the large business innovation and leadership category — for thos...

The Socioeconomic Levers Available to Towns in Driving their Local Economies

Monday, April 22, 2019

Emmy Award winning David Bibbey of Connecticut Means Business interviews CERC’s President and CEO Bob Santy - providing an insightful overview of the resource that CERC is for towns and businesses. Bob’s unique experience and CERCs 25 years of data affords a powerful perspective of the socioeconomic levers available to towns in driving their local economies, “If the town is not controlling their story [about their economic development], then someone else is.” Watch here.

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