Hartford Business Journal

8 Hartford Business Journal • February 5, 2018 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Reporter's Notebook Gregory Seay | gseay@HartfordBusiness.com Real Estate, Economic Development/Construction, Banking & Finance and Manufacturing MANUFACTURING CT manufacturers gain an important ear in Washington M anufacturing holds a special place in the heart of U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy. Largely it's because high- and low-tech production of machine tools, jet engines, submarines and related com- ponents are such an integral contributor to Connecticut's total annual output of goods and services, and jobs. It's also partly personal. Connecticut manufactur- ing provided a livelihood, job security and personal satisfaction to Murphy's maternal grandfather and great-grandfather, both of whom worked at for- mer Fafnir Manufacturing in New Britain. Murphy's manufacturing penchant is among the reasons, he says, that he does his annual "listening tour'' of Connecticut, logging constitu- ents' concerns, including those of the manufac- turing industry. So, Murphy, a Democrat facing re-election this year, is taking a fresh tack in an effort to harvest Connecti- cut manufacturers' input and ideas on issues impor- tant to them right now, namely worker training and recruitment, over-regula- tion and over-taxation. On Feb. 2, the inau- gural gathering of Mur- phy's Manufacturing and Aerospace in Connecticut Council (MACC) took place in Murphy's Hartford office, in the Colt Gateway building. The group, which lacks paid staff and a budget, included 16 Connecticut manufacturing owners, executives and policymakers. The senator said he won't attend every MACC meeting, but that a representative from his office will be at each. "The goal here is to have some formalized way to get feedback on issues that really matter for Connecticut manufacturing, particularly aero- space,'' Murphy said. According to Murphy's staff spokesperson, the ad-hoc panel consists of 16 members. All are either manufacturers, involved in workforce training/ education, or are elected leaders. They will meet quarterly to advise Murphy and his staff on Con- gressional issues the senator should be working on and what legislation he should sponsor to support Connecticut manufacturers. Murphy so far has guarded the identities of MAAC participants. But Bruce Fiedorowicz, who recently assumed his post as executive director of the Aerospace Components Manufacturers (ACM), a Rocky Hill association of aeroparts makers in Connecticut and western Massachusetts, has identified himself as a member. Fiedorowicz's manufacturing insights are credible. He crafted a 40-year career in manu- facturing, mostly in sales, new-business develop- ment and marketing for Pratt & Whitney and Bristol's Barnes Group. Most recently, he ended eight years as sales director for British aeroparts maker GKN PLC's Newington plant, to advocate on behalf of ACM members, many of whom are small producers-finishers of custom aeroparts. Two years ago, Murphy accepted an invitation from Fiedorowicz and GKN to tour its Newington facility, as part of the senator's regular visits to Connecticut manufacturers. Murphy says his lis- tening tours keep him in touch with issues impor- tant to this state's and New England's manufactur- ing sector. Murphy's ad-hoc panel formalizes and contin- ues that dialogue, Fiedorowicz says. "I'm there to first listen to the concerns and represent the Aerospace Components Manufac- turers organization, to share our challenges, es- pecially on the need for workforce development,'' Fiedorowicz said via email. "The ACM carries a big voice as we represent over 9,000 employees and over $3 billion in annual sales for our 100- plus members. "Further, we are the 'voice of the suppliers' for [original equipment manufacturers] like [Pratt & Whitney], GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce — so we can share market information from multiple sources." The state of Connecticut has reaffirmed its manufacturing commitment. Last month, the governor and his economic-development com- missioner disclosed that, since 2014, the state has invested $43.7 million to help more than 900 manufacturers invest in equipment and develop new markets and talent. DEAL WATCH $475K S. Windsor sale PAS Technologies Inc. paid $475,000 for an 8,400-square-foot industrial building it occupies in South Windsor, brokers say. PAS purchased 41 Commerce Way on 1.3 acres from Fred B. Cuda, Trustee. PAS has been a tenant since 2016 and exercised its right to purchase the building, said seller's broker Sentry Commercial. Century 21 Clemens and Sons Realty Inc. represented PAS. $230K E. Hartford office sale A two-story East Hartford office building recently sold for $230,000, brokers say. F&M East Hartford LLC purchased the 6,580-square-foot building at 53 Connecticut Blvd., from Connecticut Boulevard Associates, said seller's broker Sentry Commercial. Colliers International represented the buyer. Farmington's ex-Friendly's leased The former Friendly's restaurant in Farmington has been leased to a restaurant operator, brokers say. Union Family Restaurant leased long term the 2,530-square-foot building at 1835 Farmington Ave., in the town's Unionville section, from landlord Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc., according to landlord's broker O,R&L Commercial. O,R&L said it also procured the tenant. The Friendly's location closed in Nov. 2014. Lender Fairway's new digs Glastonbury's Fairway Independent Mortgage has leased 6,000 square feet on the first floor at 430 New Park Ave. in West Hartford that previously housed an automobile dealership, brokers say. 41 Commerce Way, South Windsor. 1835 Farmington Ave., Farmington. REAL ESTATE CT office investment slows in 2017 In 2017, investors paid $100 million to purchase various Connecticut office buildings, the lowest amount since 2011, according to CBRE-New England. The biggest deal was New York's Shelbourne Global Solutions' $49 million purchase of Hartford's Metro Center, 350 Church St. PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total investment $350M $300M $250M $200M $150M $100M $50M $0 Source: CBRE-New England Bruce Fiedorowicz, Executive Director, Aerospace Components Manufacturers (ACM) U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (left) during his April 2016 "listening" tour of GKN Aerospace's Newington plant. PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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