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12/04/2019 07:00 AMIn an effort to bolster the future economic development of Clinton, officials have turned their focus to strengthening the bonds between the town’s current manufacturing industries. On Dec. 12 the Clinton Manufacturing Coalition will hold a meeting to discuss the challenges local manufacturing businesses face and share best practices.
The coalition members are Bausch Advanced Technology Group, Roper Thermals, NSA (National Sintered Alloys), Tower Laboratories LTD, Kenyon, and Argo EMS.
The coalition was formed last year and held a similar meeting in December 2018. This year, the meeting will feature input from members of Clinton Economic Development Commission and representatives from the member businesses.
Bob Werner, one of the facilitators of the meeting, told the Harbor News the meeting is meant to review some of the objectives the coalition set at their meeting last year.
“We’ve had a lot of progress in that time,” Werner said.
According to Werner, the main issue that the coalition faces is how to attract skilled laborers to the manufacturing field, and he adds that it is a nationwide issue, not one unique to Clinton. To try to tackle that issue, Werner said that over the course of the last year he has worked with the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) as well as workforce alliance groups.
Representatives from the DECD have met with most of the CEOs of the companies in the coalition, he said.
“Those were two very big steps,” Werner said.
The meeting is limited to only the invited guests, but by telling people in Clinton about the fact that the manufacturing companies are meeting Werner said that he’s hopeful that it raises public awareness of the different kinds of businesses found in the town.
“Most people don’t even know these places in town exist and they employ about 300 people,” Werner said.
Werner noted that most of the businesses are family run and contribute to the town’s economy.
“They are the crown jewels of Clinton. They do some very sophisticated work. We want to retain them and keep them here,” said Werner.
Many people and politicians speak of economic development in Clinton with a focus on attracting new businesses to town, but Werner sees a link between supporting existing businesses and getting new businesses to come to town.
“They want to be seen to hopefully attract new businesses to come here. That’s a big deal to get them together to maybe share some best practices to keep them successful,” said Werner.
Economic Development Commission Chair John Allen said that by showing that the town supports existing businesses, it signals new to businesses that the town can support their investment on the town.
“A friendly business environment benefits everyone. Maintaining your existing clients is always you most important priority, but existing businesses benefit from increased people and new businesses coming to town,” said Allen.
As for the next steps for the collation, Werner said that a goal is to strengthen the relationships between the manufactures themselves, and with the town. Werner said the group is also discussing ways that coalition members can get involved in the school system in town to provide STEM education.