Gentile, Conroy hail 'historic' deal with Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford

Helicopter manufacturer to stay in state at least 16 years

HARTFORD - State Rep. Linda M. Gentile (D-Ansonia, Derby) and state Rep. Theresa Conroy (D-Beacon Falls, Derby, Seymour) are very pleased to announce the General Assembly has approved a deal that Sikorsky Aircraft, which has made its home in Stratford since 1929, will remain here until at least 2032. 

"This deal is historic,” said Gentile. “It ensures a long-term presence and a long-term commitment to hiring. The agreement is good for the present and for generations to come. It gives me great comfort to think that maybe someday in the future one of my grandchildren may be working at Sikorsky and earning a good living."

“There is a ripple effect with this deal,” Conroy said. “There are the jobs down in Stratford as well as jobs at small manufacturers and suppliers around the state – and right here in Seymour - that depend on Sikorsky.”

The helicopter giant will be eligible for financial incentives in exchange for building nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters, in Connecticut. 
The deal will:

• Build nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion Helicopters – the largest maritime helicopter in the world - in Connecticut for the United States Navy until at least June 2032 
• Keep the Sikorsky headquarters in the state and maintain its Stratford site as a primary production facility for its government based helicopter business
• Retain and grow its full time employment in Connecticut to more than 8,000 by the end of year 14
• Nearly double its spending of $350 million per year with local Connecticut suppliers throughout the state
• Increase its capital spending for machinery and equipment by 22 percent
• Drive an estimated $69.2 billion between 2016 and 2032 into the Connecticut economy
• Allow Sikorsky to spend an estimated $21.1 billion on wages and benefits between 2016 and 2032
• Support approximately 24,601 jobs directly and indirectly
• Invest an estimated $744.8 million in contractor employment
• Inject an estimated $384.4 million in direct and indirect average annual tax revenue into the Connecticut economy, totaling $6.54 billion from 2016 and 2032

The incentives, worth up to $220 million, include exemption from sales and use taxes and annual grants during the term of the deal. 

In turn, Sikorsky and Lockheed will keep its HQ and primary manufacturing in the state, retain and expand its full-time staff, increase capital spending and give top priority to its Connecticut-based suppliers.

This deal was approved in a Special Session today by the General Assembly.

This is a press release from Connecticut House Democrats.

Crisco votes to keep Sikorsky Aircraft jobs in Connecticut

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, cast a historic vote in the state Senate today to retain and grow approximately 8,000 jobs at Sikorsky Aircraft until 2032, keep the Sikorsky headquarters here in Connecticut, and substantially increase Sikorsky’s spending with its network of 302  in-state suppliers - nine of which are located in Crisco’s District.

State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr.

The agreement with Sikorsky will infuse an estimated $69 billion into Connecticut’s economy, generate $384 million per year in annual tax revenue, generate $21 billion in employee wages and benefits, and directly and indirectly support 24,600 jobs.

This agreement presents an opportunity to strengthen one of three critical components of Connecticut’s defense industry sector and to shore-up the state’s standing as a leader in fields of aerospace technology and manufacturing.  
The increased spending by Lockheed Martin in Connecticut’s supply chain alone will exceed the totality of the state’s full incentive package.

“Sikorsky’s front door is literally 10 miles from my home, and I know a lot of people in my district – Ansonia, Bethany, Hamden, Naugatuck – who either work at Sikorsky or who work at one of its many subcontractors in the region,” Crisco said. 
“This is a great deal for Connecticut; we’re getting back nearly a billion dollars in economic impact for a pretty modest state investment of grants and sales tax exemptions. And we’re doing this while beating competing offers from South Carolina and Florida and other states. That shows Connecticut’s economy is on the upswing, and the legislature is working hard to keep it moving.”

Today’s agreement with Sikorsky comes on the heels of recent announcements by Pratt & Whitney and Electric Boat that they plan on hiring several thousand employees in the next several years and expanding operations in Connecticut, thereby reinforcing Connecticut’s standing as a leader in fields of aerospace technology and manufacturing.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin will:

• Keep the Sikorsky headquarters in the state and maintain Connecticut as a primary production facility for its government-based helicopter business.
• Retain and grow its full time employment in Connecticut from a minimum of 6,500 employees in 2019 to just over 8,000 by 2032.
• Increase its spending with Connecticut subcontractors from $300 million per year beginning in 2019 to $470 million per year beginning in 2030.
• Increase its capital spending for machinery and equipment by 22 percent.

In exchange, Connecticut will provide financial incentives totaling up to $220 million over the term of the agreement:

• Sikorsky will earn grants of up to $8.57 million on an annual basis over the term of the agreement by meeting certain benchmarks, such as retaining at least the minimum level of each category; growing jobs; payroll spending; utilizing in-state suppliers; and deploying capital for machinery, equipment, and other long term investments
• Sales and use taxes will be exempted up to $5.7 million per year over the term of the agreement
• If Lockheed Martin exceeds the target level employment by 100 to 550 jobs in any given year of the agreement, it will be eligible for a performance incentive grant of up to $1.9 million, for a total of up to $20 million

Under terms of the new agreement between Sikorsky and the state - an agreement which is still pending U.S. Navy and labor union approval - Sikorsky will build nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters in Connecticut for the United States Navy until at least 2032.

The King Stallion is approximately the size of two passenger buses; it is capable of lifting 36,000 pounds and can carry a fully loaded Humvee and a platoon of 48 Marines. 
During the construction and testing of four King Stallion prototypes at Sikorsky’s West Palm Beach, Fla. facility, Connecticut subcontractors provided more $161.4 million worth of product design, development, and parts.

Sikorsky presently has 7,855 employees at its facilities in Stratford, Bridgeport, Shelton, and North Haven. 
Those employment figures will decline slightly, then grow, over the next several years as Sikorsky transitions its work in Connecticut from building the Blackhawk helicopter for the U.S. Army to the new, larger King Stallion helicopter for the U.S. Navy.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

Gentile hails long-term deal between Sikorsky, state

Helicopter manufacturer to stay in Connecticut at least 16 years

State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, Derby, said today she is very pleased Sikorsky Aircraft, which has made its home in Stratford since 1929, will remain here until at least 2032.

"This is very good news not only for the state of Connecticut, but especially the Lower Naugatuck Valley,” Gentile said. 

“Both my father and father-in-law worked at Sikorsky, along with so many other men and women from Ansonia and Derby. This deal, along with the work we have already done in the manufacturing sector, and will continue to do, will guarantee good-paying jobs and continued residency here for generations to come."

After meeting with Sikorsky parent Lockheed Martin, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a deal in which the helicopter giant will be eligible for financial incentives in exchange for building nearly 200 CH-53K King Stallion helicopters in Connecticut. 

The incentives, worth up to $220 million, include exemption from sales and use taxes and annual grants during the term of the deal. 

In turn, Sikorsky and Lockheed will keep its HQ and primary manufacturing in the state, retain and expand its full-time staff, increase capital spending, and give top priority to its Connecticut-based suppliers.

“This agreement requires legislative approval,” Gentile said. “There should be no dissenting votes on this matter. It’s a no-brainer that we must move as quickly as possible to secure such an important employer as Sikorsky. The company is vital to the stability of our economy and for the thousands of families who depend on these highly-skilled manufacturing jobs.”

This is a press release from Gentile's office.  
  

Sikorsky holds food drives for Spooner House in Shelton

The presentation check is being held by Susan Agamy, Executive Director, Spooner House, and Daniel C. Schultz, President of Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company./Submitted photo



SHELTON - Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company with headquarters in Stratford and other southern Connecticut satellite locations conducted food drives to benefit Spooner House from April 29 through May 31.

The goal of the M.E.N.U. Project (Mission: Engage, Nourish, Unite) was to provide non-perishable food items and raise funds to aid local veterans and families using the Valley Food Bank and homeless shelter at Spooner House, 30 Todd Road.

Sikorsky joined Lockheed Martin business units across 14 states and two countries in the M.E.N.U. initiative. Each drive outside of Connecticut benefits a local food bank organization.

"It has been an extreme pleasure to work with the nice people at Spooner House and shelter and to help continue the positive impact they are making in the local community," said Chris Quilici, one of the primary coordinators of the M.E.N.U. initiative at Sikorsky. 

“This experience made us aware of how difficult it has become for many of our nation's veterans to acquire food. We are extremely grateful and thankful for Spooner House, which provides the means to make food accessible. The motto during the drives within Sikorsky, where helicopters supporting the military are made, was, 'if we can save them in combat, we can feed them at home,' and the Spooner staff helped us deliver on that promise."

The Sikorsky M.E.N.U. food drive collected 1,346 food items. 
Online donations from employees and their families totaled $10,368, while other internal fundraisers brought in $5,941, making the grand total of financial donations $16,309.

Spooner House Executive Director Susan Agamy said, “We are extremely grateful for the time, energy, and support of the Sikorsky community, which went above and beyond to serve the local community. A sincere thank you goes out to everyone who participated in the Sikorsky M.E.N.U. food drive in support of veterans, neighbors and families in need.”

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About ACT

Non-profit Area Congregations Together, Inc. was formed in 1979 to help fill gaps in the Naugatuck Valley’s social service network. Today, Spooner House is operated by ACT and is a facility that provides food, shelter and support services to approximately 150 men, women and children each year. 

More than 6,000 individuals have been served by the Food Bank this past year, comprising more than 100,000 meals. Spooner House is recognized as one of the most comprehensive emergency shelter programs in Connecticut and through its food bank provides a week’s supply of groceries each month to participating families throughout the Naugatuck Valley. 

Spooner House is devoted to helping people establish self-sufficiency in an atmosphere of respect and dignity. Area Congregations Together, Inc. is a partner agency of the Valley United Way.

This is a press release from Area Congregations Together, Inc.