Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus today released the following statements regarding today’s announcement by United Technologies Corporation that it is committing to add 2,000 more jobs in Connecticut:
“In just the past three years, Connecticut has partnered with major manufacturing employers like UTC, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and Electric Boat to train workers and create thousands of new, good-paying jobs,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “These large manufacturers have hundreds of subcontractors across Connecticut—this means big business for local small businesses, machine shops and workers across the entire supply chain. Today’s announcement by UTC is welcome news.”
“This year, Democrats in the General Assembly led passage of a $50 million investment in workforce development programs helping our community colleges and high schools prepare students to meet the demands for workers in advanced manufacturing,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk). “The investments we are making in advanced manufacturing education and career training are creating a pipeline of Connecticut workers—that will fill these jobs for a generation—who are better skilled and better educated than our competitors. UTC is just the latest example of a major employer choosing to grow its workforce here in Connecticut”
“This commitment to Connecticut speaks volumes about the great workforce available in our state,” said state Senator Tim Larson (D-East Hartford). “I’m proud to represent the 3rd Senate District, which is home to UTC and many of its subcontractors.”
“UTC growing its workforce by 11 percent in Connecticut over the next three years means that Connecticut has to make a commensurate investment in its higher education system to help prepare our students for these and other high-tech manufacturing jobs, which are growing by leaps and bounds in the state,” said state Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford), who is Senate Co-Chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee. “I remember last year at this time UTC was opening its brand-new $60 million research center in East Hartford, and that came a couple years after UTC said it’s investing half a billion dollars in research and manufacturing here in Connecticut by 2020. So the jobs are there, and they’re growing; now we have to do our part to properly prepare the next-generation workforce.”
“Nothing happens in a vacuum; UTC is growing these jobs in Connecticut in part because of our commitment to this company and their commitment to stay and grow in Connecticut, which they’ve been doing a lot of lately,” said state Senator Steve Cassano (D-Manchester), who once worked as a machinist at UTC’s Pratt & Whitney division. “UTC CEO Greg Hayes said today that their hiring goals means Connecticut has to train and have available a wider pool of manufacturing talent. That’s what I’ve been saying for years. We’ve got to get kids started earlier in the manufacturing trades, and we’ve got to bring more women into this field. I think Connecticut as made great strides in recent years but now we’ve got more work to do.”
“I spent much of the past year advocating for state assistance and job training funds for our growing submarine industry down in southeastern Connecticut, so I know how important any announcement is regarding more manufacturing jobs and the need for a trained workforce,” said state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague). “Manufacturing jobs are coming back big-time to Connecticut, and we’ve done a lot in the legislature over the last few years to make that possible, including our agreement with UTC four years ago that swapped some unused tax credits for their $500 million investment in the state. But we have to continue working with state manufacturers and our local high schools and community colleges to make sure we’re dovetailing our state job-training policies with this new economic reality. It’s kind of a nice challenge to have.”
“In 2014, I voted to make an investment in UTC’s future in Connecticut and that has helped grow our economy and create more jobs,” said state Senator Terry Gerratana (D-New Britain). “So many of my constituents in the 6th District work for UTC, and having this kind of economic stability will ensure Connecticut’s economic future. This is a great moment for Connecticut, and I am so proud to be part of it.”