Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1547354
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | NOVEMBER 2, 2026 3 Member FDIC At NBT Bank, our goal is to help you reach yours. Our relationship managers provide the expert guidance and custom solutions it takes to help grow your business. Our local commitment builds strong, long-lasting partnerships that maximize your potential for success. Maureen Kennedy, Dante Fazzina, Deb Oakliff, Nicole Chase, Andreas Kapetanopoulos, Kate VanValkenburg, Michael Hogan, Dale Stewart Let our experienced Connecticut commercial banking team create real opportunity for your business. www.nbtbank.com/ct Fraud Protection & Secure Banking Solutions Local Perspective & Decision-Making Capital & Treasury Management Solutions and expands its Bradley network to five U.S. hubs. United also flies nonstop from Bradley to Chicago, Denver and Washington Dulles. Ascend Bank to close Norwich branch, open lending office Ascend Bank will close its down- town Norwich branch at year's end and plans to open a commercial lending office nearby in early 2027. The Guilford-based bank, with $1.5 billion in assets, cited increased digital banking use in its decision to reduce its Norwich branch count from three to two. No layoffs are planned; affected employees will transfer to other locations. Pending regulatory approval, Ascend will lease about 1,700 square feet of office space at 187 Main St. for its commercial lenders, business banking staff and administrative employees. The bank said the office will support efforts to expand commer- cial lending amid growing redevelop- ment interest in Norwich. Trinity Health bond plan includes $34M for CT hospitals Trinity Health plans a $628.2 million multistate bond deal that would provide $34 million for capital improvements at its Connecticut hospitals. The Connecticut Health and Educa- tional Facilities Authority reviewed the proposal Oct. 21 but took no action. The plan includes $93.1 million in bonds issued through the quasi-public authority, with proceeds also refinancing $64.8 million in existing debt. The proposal does not identify which hospitals would receive improvements or what work is planned. Trinity's Connecticut hospitals include St. Francis, St. Mary's, Johnson Memorial and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation. Its New England operations reported a $12.3 million operating loss in fiscal 2025. If approved, the bonds are expected to close in March 2027. S&S Worldwide to lay off 70 at Colchester headquarters S&S Worldwide, a family-owned distributor of arts and crafts, sports and educational products, plans to lay off 70 employees at its Colchester headquarters by Dec. 19. The layoffs began Oct. 20, according to a notice filed with the state Department of Labor. The company cited "business circum- stances" but did not elaborate on the reasons for the layoffs. Founded in 1906, S&S supplies schools, camps, hospitals and long- term care facilities. The company underwent an $11 million financial restructuring in 2022, anchored by a $6 million loan from Connecticut Innovations, the state's quasi-public investment arm. It had about 275 employees that summer, Hearst Connecticut Media reported. Cannondale parent to close Wilton office, cut 143 jobs The company behind Cannon- dale bicycles plans to perma- nently close its Wilton office, with layoffs affecting 143 employees, according to a state Department of Labor filing. Cycling Sports Group Inc. said layoffs will begin Dec. 21 and continue in phases through Dec. 31, 2027. The 143 affected employees include staff based in Wilton, remote workers assigned to that office and employees of Pacific Cycle Inc. Cuts span engineering, product development, sales, marketing and other departments. Cannondale, founded in Connecticut in 1971, is owned by Netherlands-based Pon Holdings. The notice did not explain the closure or say whether operations would relocate. BIZ BRIE FS Trinity Health Of New England signage outside St. Francis Hospital's Gengras Medical Office Building in Hartford. Contributed Photo | Joseph Driscoll A United Airlines plane. Contributed Photo Cycling Sports Group's Wilton office at 1 Cannondale Way. Photo | CoStar