Jason Buchsbaum

Rep. Buchsbaum Tours Gyre9 in Southbury

Southbury, CT – An advanced manufacturer is making innovative products in Southbury. State Representative Jason Buchsbaum (R-69) , Commerce Committee member, recently met with principals of Gyre9, a product design, engineering, development, and contract manufacturing company. He also took a tour of the company’s 40,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Buchsbaum met with Founder & President Edward Gilchrest, Chief Research & Design Officer Frank Von Holzhausen, and Sales & Project Manager Lori Galanis. The company specializes in commercial electric vehicle charging equipment but is also working to develop equipment for data server farms, air filtration for medical equipment, and an electric motorcycle, among a variety of other products. Clients include Henkel, Abbott, and Hurst Jaws of Life. The tour also included a review of various products that Gyre9 designed and helped bring to market over the last 20 years. "It is vital to understand the needs of local business owners, and state-based manufacturing and innovation leaders. I look forward to sharing information about Gyre9 with my colleagues on the Commerce Committee. Raising awareness about Connecticut-based companies is key to helping them network and grow the local workforce," said Rep. Buchsbaum . G9EV, the company's in-house brand launched two years ago, focuses on domestically manufactured EV charging infrastructure. Gyre9 employs 25 to 45 people at their Southbury facility. The skilled jobs range from designers to mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing engineers. "I think one of the hurdles that small companies and start-ups find with doing business in Connecticut is the somewhat disjointed nature of state government and quasi-public agencies, having to navigate the various state agencies involved in a particular sector," noted Rep. Buchsbaum. Another challenge Rep. Buchsbaum and the Gyre9 executives discussed was the lack of an overall database of businesses to connect one to another, or to review state resources. They said this could help not only with networking, but also with filling their needs with a Connecticut workforce. "We need to work to make Connecticut more business friendly. One of the ways we can do that is be helping to streamline processes and to make state resources more easily accessible," concluded Rep. Buchsbaum. Rep. Buchsbaum is also a member of the legislature's Bipartisan Manufacturing Caucus, which raises awareness about the challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing sector. ###

Rep. Buchsbaum Provides Mid-Session Update on Committee Work

All three of the committees of which Representative Jason Buchsbaum is a member met this week to begin voting on bills that were heard at public hearings in recent weeks. The Commerce Committee met to discuss a few bills concerning economic development and tourism. The deadline for this committee comes up next week. "The Energy and Technology Committee held two meetings and completed its work for this session without raising a single bill that would address the high cost of electricity and exorbitant public benefits charges on ratepayer bills. I will continue to advocate for relief for our residents on this significant issue," said Rep. Buchsbaum. "Instead, it discussed proposals at its final meeting that would have the opposite effect. I took issue with that at the meeting, along with the process utilized to pass bills out of committee that were not finalized, that even the proponents acknowledged needed many changes before being presented to the full House. " While Rep. Buchsbaum supports exploration of all energy sources, he believes there needs to be a balanced, thoughtful approach in adopting policies, and statutory language needs to be fully evaluated at the committee level. The Public Safety & Security Committee also met to report bills through to the next step in the legislative process. There were dozens of bills that advanced, including a number aimed at assisting our first responders, including police, fire, and EMS, with respect to various benefits, recruitment, and retention. The Committee listened to feedback on Tuesday on a firefighter and police officer recruitment and retention bill related to tuition at state schools. Rep. Buchsbaum noted, "there was testimony from EMS professionals and I have heard from EMS organizations throughout the 69th district about expanding the legislation to include EMS, which I fully support." There were a number of other public safety initiatives on the agenda as well, including an expansion of the Connection to Recovery Through Intervention, Support & Initiating Services (CRISIS) Initiative pilot program, which helps police officers on de-escalation/intervention tactics with an aim to help connect people in overdose, substance abuse, and mental health calls to the services they need.

CT DOT to Perform Maintenance Work on I-84 Ramps

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is performing wrong way driver detection maintenance and recertification on I-84 west and eastbound in Southbury on Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 Eastbound, Exit 14 in Southbury • I-84 Eastbound, Exit 16 in Southbury • I-84 Westbound, Exit 15 in Southbury Traffic will follow posted detours and drivers are advised to seek alternate routes during the ramp closures listed above. Modifications or extensions to this schedule may become necessary due to weather delays or other unforeseen conditions. Motorists are advised to maintain a safe speed when driving in this area. The DOT is performing similar work throughout the region over the next two weeks. Monday, March 23, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 East and Westbound at Exit 4 in Danbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 5 in Danbury • I-84 Eastbound at Exit 2 in Danbury Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 West and Eastbound at Exit 10 in Newtown • I-84 West and Eastbound at Exit 11 in Newtown • I-84 Westbound at Exit 9 in Newtown Monday, March 30, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. • I-84 Westbound at Exit 17 in Waterbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 22 in Waterbury • I-84 Westbound at Exit 25 in Waterbury

Celebrating Read Across America Day at Burnham School

State Representative Jason Buchsbaum celebrated Read Across America Day by reading to students at the Burnham School in Bridgewater. Since it was Dr. Seuss’s birthday, Rep. Buchsbaum read “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” and “Horton Hears a Who!” with the upper grades and “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat” with the younger grades. "It’s been a few years since I read these stories and didn’t remember the end of “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” went like this: “So be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray…you’re off to Great Places! Today is Your Day!” We shared a good laugh over the same sounding name, just spelled differently, being included in the book," said Rep. Buchsbaum. Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place annually on March 2nd with the goal of sharing the joy of reading and promoting early childhood literacy with elementary school children. According to its website, The National Education Association seeks to build a nation of readers through its signature program, NEA’s Read Across America. For more information about this great event please visit www.nea.org/readacross .

Rep. Buchsbaum Applauds Farm Transition Grant Award

A farm in Southbury has been awarded a 2026 Farm Transition Grant from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. Guardians Farm was selected as just one of 43 recipients, out of a record 123 applications for this grant. "Small and mid-sized agricultural operations have a positive impact on our local economy. Investments in farms like this help ensure that our agricultural sector remains viable, competitive, and environmentally sound for future generations," said Rep. Jason Buchsbaum.