Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1545806
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JULY 13, 2026 11 21 DEMING RD, BERLIN, CT 06037 / (860) 610-1093 / OLSENCS.COM • CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT • GENERAL CONTRACTING • DESIGN–BUILD out of a career. Those are the ones that we tend to have more success with," he said. 'Aging out' Brian Weinstein, president and CEO of Deep River-based Chapco Inc., knows firsthand how Electric Boat's expansion is rippling through Connecticut's manufacturing sector. The 60-employee precision sheet metal fabricator invested $7.5 million this year to consolidate operations from three Chester facilities into a new 150,000-square-foot headquarters and manufacturing center in Deep River. The move was driven in part by growing demand from Electric Boat, which has become Chapco's largest customer since the company joined the submarine builder's supply chain in 2023. Yet, even as the company positions itself for growth, Weinstein said finding experienced manufacturing workers remains a challenge. "We've kind of resigned ourselves to the fact that new people are all going to need training," he said. " It's hard to find experienced people. A lot of them are aging out." Giri Agrawal, president of Bloomfield-based R&D Dynamics, a manufacturer of bearings and turbomachinery, has more than 10 openings, some to replace retiring workers and others tied to expansion. He said he can still hire engineers from overseas, but shop floor posi- tions are much harder to fill. Like Noujaim, he reached out to companies announcing layoffs, including Stanley Black & Decker. He's even placed colorful roadside "Help Wanted" signs in an effort to attract applicants. "I can't find a single guy," he said. Agrawal said workers coming from other manufacturing jobs may not have the exact skills his company needs, but they often require less training than recent graduates. "It's not the same kind of work that he was doing at Stanley, but he can learn faster than a guy from school," he said. Agrawal also said the state is not in regular communication with smaller manufacturers about workforce challenges, including recruiting and training workers, and he would like more help connecting with experi- enced employees displaced by layoffs at larger companies. State labor officials say they hear from employers hoping to recruit workers affected by layoffs. The Department of Labor's Busi- ness Engagement Unit works with employers on hiring efforts, while its Rapid Response team provides early assistance to displaced workers. During the first five months of 2026, the Rapid Response team worked with 1,010 displaced workers across all industries. The department also assists eligible workers through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. In 2024, it served 675 dislocated workers, including 276 who received training. Labor officials said 79% of partici- pants were employed one year after leaving the program. Brian Weinstein (left), president and CEO of Chapco Inc., says most new manufacturing hires now require extensive on-the-job training. (Right) A roadside "Help Wanted" sign outside R&D Dynamics in Bloomfield. HBJ Photos | Mike Puffer