Friday, April 25, 2014

Crisco hails passage of UTC investment bill

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, Jr., D-Woodbridge, spoke Thursday on the Senate floor in support of legislation formalizing an agreement between the State of Connecticut and United Technologies Corp.
Under the agreement the company will invest up to $500 million to upgrade and expand its aerospace research, development, and manufacturing facilities in Connecticut over the next five years.

The agreement represents a re-commitment by UTC to its home state, and will have a direct or indirect impact on more than 75,000 jobs in Connecticut. 
The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 34-2.

“This bill is a vital investment in Connecticut’s engineering and manufacturing future,” said Crisco. “United Technologies is more than just a developer of engines and machine parts—it is a developer of people. This is a great day for Connecticut’s aerospace industry.”

Specifically, the company will:

  • Construct a new Pratt & Whitney corporate headquarters, which it will keep in Connecticut for a minimum of 15 years
  • Construct a new Pratt & Whitney worldwide engineering center of excellence in Connecticut
  • Keep Sikorsky corporate headquarters in Connecticut for a minimum of five years
  • Create a customer training center at UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) in Windsor Locks
  • Build new labs and infrastructure at United Technologies Research Center (UTRC)
  • Invest in new research projects and capital investments at Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, UTAS and UTRC
Construction on the projects is expected to begin this year and continue through 2018.

In return, the State of Connecticut will allow exchange of approximately $20 million per year of UTC’s previously earned but unused tax credits to finance the construction, up to a maximum of $400 million.
The exchanged credits will be offset with tax reductions over a 14-year period, with the final amount based on the company’s level of jobs, wages, and investments.

If UTC fails to meet any of its obligations under the agreement, the benefits to the company would be either significantly reduced or eliminated. 
The agreement further incentivizes UTC by allowing for more exchanges as the company adds jobs in Connecticut and makes additional capital investments.

The enabling legislation, House Bill 5465, passed the House of Representatives April 17. The bill now proceeds to the desk of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.


This is a press release from Crisco's office.

No comments:

Valley Community Foundation Awards $170,000 in Scholarships

    Valley Community Foundation Awards $170,000 from Scholarship Funds to Support Educational Pursuits of Local Students   DERBY, CT (Octobe...