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4 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 1, 2026 5%, according to the state Department of Labor. The March jobs estimate was revised upward to a gain of 2,400 jobs, while the state added 5,200 jobs over the past year. Manufacturing added 1,200 jobs in April, and construction employment reached its highest level in 18 years. State labor officials said the higher unemployment rate likely reflects more people entering the workforce, not increased layoffs. CT Wealth Management adds business advisory executive Farmington-based Connecticut Wealth Management has added business consul- tant Kelly McDaniel to expand services for business-owner clients. McDaniel, president and owner of consulting firm DeLis- aGroup, will lead offerings focused on executive coaching, leadership development, recruiting and succes- sion planning, according to the firm. Connecticut Wealth Management said the move broadens its services beyond financial planning and invest- ment advisory. Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. BIZ BRIE FS Kelly McDaniel radler. The company also signed its first professional baseball brand ambassador, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Athletic said off-premise dollar sales have increased nearly 24% year over year, reflecting continued momentum in the fast-growing nonalcoholic beer category. Shelton biotech raises $2M to fund drug development, operations Shelton-based NanoViricides has raised $2 million from a single insti- tutional investor as the early-stage biotech continues to fund operations and development of its antiviral drug pipeline. The publicly traded company sold about 1.33 million shares, along with warrants for additional share purchases. NanoViricides said the proceeds will support working capital, research and development, clinical trial costs and potential strategic initiatives. The financing follows a $6 million capital raise in November, after the company warned it lacked sufficient cash to fund operations beyond mid-February without additional financing. NanoViricides is developing experi- mental antiviral treatments, including its lead drug candidate, NV-387, for mpox and other viral infections. Hartford eco-casket startup files for bankruptcy as foreclosure looms A Hartford startup that set out to manufacture environmentally friendly caskets has filed for Chapter 11 bank- ruptcy protection as it faces foreclo- sure on its property at 203 Locust St. Kingstown Green Inc. Eco-Friendly Casket Cooperative, founded in 2021, was launched to produce eco-friendly caskets for direct sale to consumers and funeral homes. The company has manufactured nine caskets, with three available for sale, but has not recorded any sales, according to court filings. Kingstown Green lists roughly $777,000 in assets — largely tied to its Hartford property — against about $750,000 in liabilities, including mortgage and unsecured debt owed to mission-driven lenders. RBC Bearings expands as submarine, missile demand drives growth Oxford-based RBC Bearings said it is expanding production capacity as rising demand from U.S. submarine and missile programs boosts its aero- space and defense business. The manufacturer, which makes precision bearings and engineered components, said aerospace and defense revenue jumped 41.2% in its latest quarter, helping drive total sales to $518 million. CEO Michael Hartnett said submarine-related demand tied to Navy Virginia- and Columbia-class programs is fueling a growing backlog, prompting investments in equipment, factory space, testing labs and hiring. The company expects marine-re- lated revenue to double within two to three years as Connecticut's defense manufacturing supply chain continues to expand. CT adds 5,700 jobs in April Connecticut added 5,700 jobs in April, pushing total nonfarm employ- ment to a record 1.73 million, even as the state's unemployment rate rose to Kingstown Green's Hartford building at 203 Locust St. Photo | CoStar Continued from page 3