Carpino Tours CT’s “Largest Employer” UTC

State Reps. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland), Bill Aman (South Windsor), on the right, and State Reps. Christopher Davis (East Windsor & Ellington), Tami Zawistowski (Suffield, Windsor, East Granby) on the left, with, center, Jay DeFrank, Vice President, Communications & Government Relations, Pratt & Whitney who provided the legislators with a two hour hands-on tour of the East Hartford facility.

HARTFORD – State Representative Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) spearheaded a tour and fact finding mission for a group of interested legislators at United Technologies facilities at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford and Sikorsky in Stratford.  Carpino and her fellow legislators voted this session to support an incentive program to bolster the Connecticut’s aerospace industry, foster the retention and creation of jobs, and protect our national defense.

“This investment is for both UTC and the hundreds of small companies in Connecticut, some in Cromwell and Portland that do business with UTC. Right now Pratt & Whitney manufactures about 20% of what’s needed to produce its engines, with the balance coming from these other, smaller companies. I am committed to keeping jobs in Connecticut, especially if they benefit the district,” said Carpino.

According to UTC, it does business with 18 companies in Cromwell and Portland. In addition, many UTC employees live in the two towns.  Carpino said, “The presence of UTC in Connecticut has a direct impact on the district, we have a vested interest in keeping them in our state.”

Under the legislation, which Carpino supported in the House of Representatives, the agreement does not require any borrowing or payments by the State of Connecticut, and is expected to create nearly 1,500 construction and other related jobs throughout the initial capital expansion. UTC expects to invest up to $4 billion in research and other capital expenditures in the state.

The proposal will provide up to $400 million in tax credits to UTC for continuing research and development spending, and half a billion dollars in facility development including a new global headquarters campus for Pratt and Whitney.  Under the agreement, Pratt & Whitney will keep its headquarters in Connecticut for the next fifteen years with a new engineering center.  In addition, Sikorsky will keep its headquarters in Connecticut for the next five years.  New facility construction would begin this year and conclude in 2018.

United Technologies Corporation (UTC), a leading manufacturer that is the state’s largest employer with 22,200 workers, and includes Sikorsky Aircraft, Pratt & Whitney, and UTC Aerospace Systems.

Rep. Carpino added “Surviving in a difficult economy is tough for many businesses, especially in Connecticut. Touring these companies it reaffirms my belief that we must maintain and encourage good paying jobs are available to Connecticut residents.”