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David Ference First Vice President Commercial Banking dference@bankatpeoples.com Daniel Bishop First Vice President Commercial Banking dbishop@bankatpeoples.com Jennifer Yergeau Vice President Cash Management jyergeau@bankatpeoples.com Mark St. Pierre Vice President Business Banking mstpierre@bankatpeoples.com Learn More bankatpeoples.com/businessteam Member FDIC PCX, which has major operations in Newington and Manchester supplying parts for Sikorsky helicopters and other military programs, shares a private-eq- uity owner with Applied Aerospace in Greenbriar Equity Group. The combined company will operate 1.3 million square feet of production and integration facili- ties across nine locations in five states. Trip Ferguson, formerly a president at defense contractor Aerovironment, has been named CEO. PCX special- izes in advanced metal machining, while Applied Aerospace focuses on composite, metallic and polymer components used in launch vehicles, satellites and aircraft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hartford expands problem landlord crackdown Hartford is intensifying enforcement against negligent property owners, expanding its problem landlord list to include several new names. Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said the city is pursuing liens and legal action against two high-profile investors: Florida businessman Casey Askar, co-owner of the vacant 25 Sigourney St. office tower, and Long Island investor Shlomo "Sam" Sarot, who has assembled more than 400 Connecticut apartment units. Also added to the list are Nisan Bayer, Tarequl Ambia, Stephen Brickman, Shmuel Aizenberg and Hanoch Feldman. Violations cited include pest infestations, lack of heat, structural damage and other safety issues. The city says public identification and daily fines are driving improvements across hundreds of rental units. Czech tech firm acquires UConn startup, plans laser hub at Tech Park Czech-based Tescan Group has acquired UConn startup FemtoInnova- tions and will launch a laser research center at UConn's Tech Park in Storrs. FemtoInnovations, founded by UConn associate professor Sina Shahbazmohamadi and two Ph.D. graduates, develops laser systems, precision laser micromachining tools and imaging software used in microelectronics and biomedical applications. The deal marks the first time a private manufacturer will locate operations inside UConn's Innovation Partnership Building. Tescan will create a Laser Tech- nology Business Unit and a FLAME Center focused on ultrafast laser applications in semiconductor manu- facturing, electron microscopy and medical devices. The company plans to support Ph.D. students, install research equipment and build a clean room, integrating the new unit with its microscopy and micro-CT business lines starting in 2026. Marina operator buys Mystic waterfront for expansion Essex-based BLP Enterprises has purchased a Mystic River property at 35-37 Water Street for $3.5 million, adding 12 deep-water slips and two waterfront buildings to its portfolio. The company plans to brand the site "Fort Rachel North Yard," expanding its nearby Fort Rachel Marina. CEO Steve Karlson said one of the buildings will house the marina's Yamaha outboard motor showroom, freeing up space at the original location. BLP, which also owns marinas in Chester and Groton, expects to begin improve- ments in 2026 after surveying the property and working with an architect. 62-unit apartment project proposed for Farmington Developer Metro Realty is proposing a 62-unit multifamily development at 20 Scott Swamp Road in Farmington. Plans call for demolishing a vacant former nursing home and constructing five residential buildings with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 800 to 1,500 square feet. Metro Realty is pursuing the project under Connecticut's 8-30g affordable housing statute, with most units reserved for households earning 30% to 80% of area median income. If approved, construction could be completed in 2028. Harris Beach Murtha launches AI legal advisory team Regional law firm Harris Beach Murtha has formed a 16-member artificial intelligence industry team to counsel companies on legal, regulatory and business issues tied to AI. Led by attorney Brendan Palfreyman, the group will advise on developing AI products, deploying customer-facing tools and using AI internally. The firm says it aims to help clients navigate data privacy, intellectual property, employment law, contracts and emerging regulations. The move comes as other Connecticut law firms also add AI teams to meet growing client demand for guid- ance on the rapidly evolving technology. Harris Beach Murtha was created from the recent merger of Hartford-based Murtha Cullina and Harris Beach of Rochester, N.Y., and now has more than 250 attorneys across 16 offices. 35-37 Water Street, Mystic. Photo | CoStar Brendan Palfreyman