AGP Executive Report

Aerospace Investment: Bombardier plans $270 million in U.S. infrastructure investment and 800 hires nationwide, including in Connecticut, as it expands its service network. Solar Consumer Protection: Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with Sunrun and related parties that require financial penalties and consumer relief over alleged deceptive sales practices. Corporate Move: BIC will shift its North American headquarters from Shelton to Norwalk in 2027, bringing about 220 employees to Merritt 7. Transportation Funding: Connecticut secured another $15 million in federal reimbursement for road and bridge repairs after the August 2024 storms, bringing total aid to $43 million. Winter Energy Supply: The federal government will release up to 315,000 barrels of heating oil from Northeast reserve sites, including Connecticut, to ease supply disruptions.

Utility Costs: Attorney General William Tong urged regulators to reject Connecticut Water’s proposed $25 million rate increase, which would raise average customer bills by about 18%; his filing says $19 million in costs are unjustified. Biotech: Connecticut-based Biohaven won a fresh FDA review of its rare-disease drug Vyglxia, with a decision expected in the first quarter of 2027. Manufacturing: Cannondale plans to close its Wilton headquarters by mid-2027, shift its global base to the Netherlands and lay off 143 workers. Energy: The Trump administration is seeking to reopen a federal permit for the New England Wind project off Massachusetts, raising fresh uncertainty for regional clean-energy development and a bipartisan permitting deal. Development: Norwalk approved a master plan for Manresa Wilds, a proposed $410 million transformation of a former power-plant site into public space and venues; further approvals are still needed before construction.

Manufacturing: Cannondale plans to close its Wilton headquarters by mid-2027, with as many as 143 jobs affected as its global base moves to the Netherlands and North American operations shift west. Workforce and Innovation: The CCSU Foundation bought a former Raytheon data center in Newington for $3.6 million, eyeing the site for programs tied to workforce training and innovation. Defense and R&D: A proposed Stonington tech park would house General Dynamics subsidiary Applied Physical Sciences, with plans for research and development and light manufacturing space. Clean Energy: Federal officials are again seeking to revoke approval for Revolution Wind, a 704-megawatt project expected to supply 5% of Connecticut’s electricity and support 1,200 construction jobs.

Research & Biotech: Trumbull-based CooperSurgical is donating more than 300 cord blood samples and additional funding to support stem-cell research at the University of Toronto. Manufacturing & Jobs: Cannondale plans to close its Connecticut headquarters by mid-2027, laying off 143 workers. BIC, meanwhile, will move its North American headquarters from Shelton to Norwalk. Infrastructure: New Britain secured $6.9 million for stormwater, sewer, water-line and road upgrades near flood-prone Allen Street; construction is expected to start early next year. Energy: New England’s nuclear plants, including Millstone, supply about a quarter of the region’s electricity as demand grows. But federal efforts to reopen permits for offshore wind projects—including Revolution Wind, already generating power off Connecticut and Rhode Island—raise uncertainty for the region’s clean-energy buildout. Workforce: Connecticut’s September job count reached a new high, while unemployment held at 5.1%. Research on technical high schools also points to stronger early-career earnings for Connecticut graduates, underscoring the value of employer-linked training.

Energy: Connecticut-based Budderfly plans to invest up to $500 million in solar, storage and other upgrades for municipalities, aiming to link projects into a 150-megawatt virtual power plant. Cities would repay the company from energy savings. Corporate Moves: BIC plans to move its North American headquarters from Shelton to Norwalk, while a 32,000-square-foot industrial building in Middletown has sold. Manufacturing: Connecticut suppliers seeking defense contracts face costly cybersecurity requirements, a growing challenge for the state’s manufacturing base. Business Outlook: Stamford-based Philip Morris beat third-quarter estimates, buoyed by Zyn sales and higher cigarette prices, but warned that conflict-driven inflation and disruptions in Ukraine are weighing on costs and operations. Jobs: Connecticut added 1,400 jobs in September, though unemployment remained at 5.1%.

Health Care: A federal appeals court has let Connecticut enforce its cap on generic and off-patent drug prices while wholesalers challenge the law. State Comptroller Sean Scanlon also called for more public investment in health services and limits on private-equity ownership of hospitals. Business Expansion: Tropical Smoothie Cafe has signed a 40-location development deal across New York and Connecticut, with its first opening planned for early 2027. Bristol apparel company cinder+salt is opening a new showroom as demand grows. Corporate Moves: Bic plans to move its North American headquarters from Shelton to Norwalk. Norwalk-based Silgan plans to combine its metal packaging operations with Trivium in a proposed $7.3 billion business, while keeping its headquarters in Connecticut. Industry & Jobs: Connecticut added 1,400 jobs in September, though unemployment remained at 5.1%. Manufacturing suppliers also face costly cybersecurity requirements to keep defense contracts.

Corporate Moves: BIC will shift its North American headquarters from Shelton to Norwalk in 2027, relocating about 220 jobs while keeping its Milford lighter plant. Connecticut Manufacturing: The Rose family has acquired Shelton-based Wiffle Ball, with the brand, employees, headquarters and U.S. manufacturing staying put. Business Growth: Tropical Smoothie Cafe signed a 40-store expansion deal spanning Western Connecticut and parts of New York. Jobs and Industry: Connecticut added 1,400 jobs in September, though unemployment remained at 5.1%; meanwhile, manufacturing suppliers face costly cybersecurity requirements to retain defense contracts. Energy Costs: Rising utility bills are putting pressure on households and businesses, keeping affordability high on the agenda.

Business Expansion: Tropical Smoothie Cafe has struck a 40-store deal spanning western Connecticut and parts of New York, with the operator expected to open its first location next year. Energy and Utilities: Connecticut’s attorney general and consumer counsel want PURA to investigate how utilities use AI and protect critical systems, amid warnings that the technology could create new cybersecurity risks. Jobs and Manufacturing: Employers added 1,400 jobs in September, lifting state employment to a record 1.73 million. Manufacturing led the year’s gains, adding 6,500 jobs. Packaging: Connecticut-based Silgan plans to acquire Trivium Packaging, combining businesses in a deal expected to create a $7.3 billion packaging company. Agriculture: UConn received two USDA grants totaling about $181,000 to study cucumber beetle controls and apple rootstocks, research aimed at helping Connecticut growers improve yields and crop quality.

Food & Retail: Milford’s Silver Sands Pizza is expanding its frozen New Haven-style apizza into select Big Y and Adams markets, while Duchess Restaurants will adopt a frying technology across its Connecticut chain to reduce oil use and waste. A separate recall affects raw cheddar sold in Connecticut after testing found two E. coli strains; no illnesses have been reported. Manufacturing: Windsor precision-machining supplier NE-XT spent about $200,000 and 18 months preparing for a Pentagon cybersecurity audit tied to defense-contract eligibility, underscoring the burden on small suppliers. Hospitality: Kautilya Group and G6 Hospitality plan five extended-stay hotels in Connecticut over three to four years, starting with two 118-room properties in Greater Hartford. Small Business Costs: Watertown printer BTS Graphics cut monthly health-insurance costs from about $3,200 to $1,000 by switching to an individual-coverage reimbursement model, though employees must choose their own plans. Workplace Retail: A Connecticut law effective Oct. 1 allows cameras to monitor breakroom micro-markets, easing a regulatory hurdle for unattended retail operators.

Food Safety: Family Farmstead Dairy recalled raw cheddar distributed in Connecticut and six other states after testing found two E. coli strains; no illnesses had been reported. Utility Costs: Eversource is appealing PURA’s rejection of storm-cost interest, prolonging a dispute over whether customers should cover the charges. Data Security: Frontier agreed to pay Connecticut $625,000 to settle a state probe into a data breach. Manufacturing Workforce: Connecticut State’s proposed Norwalk optics programs aim to meet manufacturers’ workforce needs. Hiring: Connecticut employers filed 2,943 H-1B petitions in 2025; professional and technical services led with 903, followed by finance and insurance with 626.

Energy and Utilities: Eversource is appealing PURA’s rejection of about $400 million in storm-cost interest, while the federal administration is again challenging Revolution Wind as the offshore project nears completion. Rail Investment: A $130 million federal grant will upgrade Springfield’s rail system and support the West-East Rail plan, a regional connection aimed at bringing passenger service to the area by 2030. Workforce and Housing: Employers say scarce, costly housing is making it harder to recruit workers, keeping housing supply a business concern as Connecticut towns weigh new development. Manufacturing: BD marked 65 years of manufacturing in North Canaan, highlighting the longevity of a key local industrial operation. Data Security: Frontier agreed to pay Connecticut $625,000 to settle a state probe into a data breach, adding to pressure on service providers to protect customer information.

Food Industry: Family Farmstead Dairy recalled a lot of raw mild cheddar over possible E. coli contamination; the cheese was distributed in Connecticut and six other states. Energy: Eversource is appealing PURA’s rejection of more than $300 million in storm-cost interest. Meanwhile, federal officials are seeking to revoke Revolution Wind’s approval as the nearly completed project faces another threat. Transportation: A $130 million federal grant will upgrade Springfield’s rail system and support East-West Rail, with Boston service targeted for 2030. Work also continues toward the next milestone on the Connecticut River Bridge. Development & Workforce: Data centers are drawing local opposition, while employers cite the housing shortage as a barrier to hiring—putting pressure on Connecticut to balance infrastructure growth with housing needs.

Energy Regulation: Eversource is appealing PURA’s rejection of hundreds of millions of dollars in storm-related costs. Gov. Ned Lamont says ratepayers shouldn’t cover expenses the regulator deemed unjustified. Attorney General William Tong also criticized NextEra Energy’s reported $4 million donation to a White House ballroom fund as the company seeks approval for a merger with Dominion Energy, warning the deal could threaten competition and affordability. Data Security: Connecticut and New York secured a $2.7 million settlement with a pediatric health network and its IT manager over a 2024 breach; separately, Frontier will pay Connecticut $625,000 over a breach affecting nearly 60,000 residents. Workforce and Housing: New Haven’s Friends Center for Children is providing rent-free homes to teachers, part of a growing employer response to housing costs that are making recruitment harder. Transportation: Windsor Locks’ new train station has opened, improving rail connections to Bradley International Airport. Food Safety: A recalled lot of raw cheddar cheese over possible E. coli contamination was distributed in Connecticut; consumers are urged not to eat it.

Workforce Housing: Connecticut employers are increasingly offering housing assistance to recruit and retain workers as tight rental markets make hiring harder. New Haven’s Friends Center for Children has gone further, providing free homes for teachers. Utility Costs: Eversource is appealing PURA’s rejection of hundreds of millions of dollars in storm-recovery costs. Gov. Ned Lamont says ratepayers should not have to cover the disputed charges. Data Center Pushback: Cromwell residents are organizing against a proposed 1.2-million-square-foot data center near homes, schools and parks, even though no formal zoning application has been filed. Consumer Protection: Frontier will pay $625,000 to settle Connecticut’s investigation into a breach that exposed nearly 60,000 residents’ Social Security numbers. Skills Pipeline: Connecticut’s Career Pathways Commission has released a draft plan for work-based learning and career exposure, aiming to prepare students for in-demand jobs. Transportation: Windsor Locks’ new train station expands connections to Bradley International Airport, while regional rail upgrades could improve service along the Connecticut River corridor.

Utility Costs: Eversource sued Connecticut regulators over the rejection of hundreds of millions of dollars in storm-related carrying costs and crew expenses. Gov. Ned Lamont called the appeal a “money grab” that ratepayers cannot afford. Energy Assistance: Lamont added $12.7 million to heating aid, aiming to provide nearly 100,000 low-income households with a full tank of oil as heating costs surge. Data Security: Frontier will pay Connecticut $625,000 and strengthen its security practices to settle an investigation into a 2024 breach affecting 58,841 residents. Housing & Construction: Lamont praised the state’s housing law, which encourages towns to plan for growth and makes it easier to convert underused sites into homes. CTDOT also plans to replace deteriorated I-84 noise barriers in New Britain and Farmington in 2028. Clean Energy: Connecticut joined states suing to preserve power-plant emissions limits, while the Trump administration again moved to block the nearly completed Revolution Wind project. Manufacturing: Connecticut State is proposing Norwalk optics programs to help meet manufacturing workforce needs. Business: Westport-born PopUp Bagels opened a Times Square location, extending the Connecticut-founded brand’s growth.

Utility Costs: Eversource is appealing Connecticut regulators’ rejection of more than $300 million in storm-cost interest, while Attorney General William Tong says the state will defend the decision and shield customers from the added charges. Energy Development: Federal authorities are again seeking to revoke Revolution Wind’s approval as the offshore project nears completion, drawing sharp opposition from Connecticut officials. Manufacturing Workforce: CT State is proposing optics programs in Norwalk to help meet manufacturers’ workforce needs. Transportation: The new Windsor Locks train station has opened, improving rail connections to Bradley International Airport. Construction: Norwalk has started work on a 286-unit conversion of office space into apartments, adding to Connecticut’s housing development pipeline.