Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) today released the following statements on the announcement that the Governor and Lockheed Martin have reached an agreement, subject to legislative approval, to retain and grow approximately 8,000 jobs at Sikorsky Aircraft until 2032. This agreement will keep the Sikorsky headquarters in Connecticut, and increase investments in in-state suppliers.
“In a global economy, this company could have chosen to move anywhere in the world but it chose to remain in Connecticut,” said Senator Looney. “The educational investments we are making in advanced manufacturing career training are creating a pipeline of workers—that will fill these jobs for a generation—who are better skilled and better educated than our competitors.
“This proposal represents a landmark victory not only for the eight thousand workers at Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin but for the small businesses, machine shops and workers across the entire supply chain. Hundreds of suppliers throughout the state will benefit from a strong Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin partnership with the State of Connecticut, and that means keeping good-paying jobs here in Connecticut for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s graduates.”
“What does this investment really mean?” said Senator Duff. “It means that Connecticut kids can go to school knowing that they’ll have jobs available to them right here in Connecticut when they graduate.
“Connecticut is continuing to make smart investments in industries with good-paying, reliable jobs that will be here today, tomorrow and over the next generation. This is part of a long-term strategy to continue building jobs for the future. It is the same strategy that secured biomedical companies like The Jackson Laboratory and Alexion Pharmaceuticals; media companies like NBC Sports and ESPN; and large advanced manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney, Electric Boat and Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin.
“The King Stallion helicopter is the only one of its type in the world, and it is being built right here in Connecticut because we have the skilled workforce capable of producing the next generation helicopter. The economic impact of this project will create and sustain thousands in the manufacturing supply chain across all corners of the state for years to come.”
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