• March 2019 Business & Employment Changes Announced in the News Media PDF   
• March 2019 Business & Employment Changes Announced in the News Media XLS   

Raymour & Flanigan seeks major Manchester expansion

Retailer Raymour & Flanigan Furniture is looking to significantly expand its Manchester warehouse space to improve storage and delivery logistics, town records show. The New York-based company has proposed to add on a 199,466-square-foot addition and 8,400-square-foot materials processing facility at its Chapel Road site, which currently spans 300,650 square feet, according to town records. The new facility would provide 16 loading docks in the Northwest corner of the addition, amounting to 64 total docks on-site.

Retail stores, apartments slated for Wooster Square

A large scale retail and residential development is coming to the Wooster Street area in New Haven, a project which city officials hope will connect downtown with Wooster Square. The project includes demolishing existing buildings and building 299 rental apartments and 6,000 square feet of retail space. The apartments will include a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. Garrett Sheehan, president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, said having a mixture of apartments and stores will "energize" the area.

Hartford HealthCare launches $10.4M cancer center in Manchester

Hartford HealthCare (HHC) says it recently opened a $10.4 million cancer treatment center in Manchester. The state's second largest health system on Tuesday said the three-story Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, located at 376 Tolland Turnpike, will provide multi-specialty care targeted at residents east of Hartford, which is home to its flagship facility, Hartford Hospital. With its glass and brick exterior, the 37,581-square-foot cancer center can be seen from I-84 eastbound near exit 63.

Chipotle coming to Route 66 in Middletown this summer

Come mid-summer, the city will be home to the Mexican-American food chain known for its fresh, healthy ingredients, environmentally friendly philosophy and fast/casual atmosphere. Chipotle spokeswoman Regina Wu said the company will be advertising jobs in a few months at jobs.chipotle.com.

New coffee shop is brewing for New Haven

Coffee connoisseurs may soon have another place to enjoy their favorite beverages and other treats, as a popular area coffee shop is planning to expand into the East Rock neighborhood. Dena Jara, an owner of Common Grounds, hopes to open the new coffee destination soon in space at 763-767 Orange St., formerly home to a pharmacy. Jara's business currently has locations in Branford and Hamden.

CareBuilders at Home establishes CT presence in Stamford

CareBuilders at Home, a national network of private-duty home care agencies based in New Hyde Park, New York, has opened its first Connecticut location at 750 E. Main St. in Stamford. The caregiving provider, a private-duty home division of ATC Healthcare Inc., specializes in supplying nonmedical care and home health care services. It will use its Stamford base to serve residents throughout the greater Fairfield County area.

Two Roads' second brewery weeks from opening

Two Roads' Brewing Company is weeks away from unveiling its new brewery, and a string of innovative beers to boot. After 15 months of construction, founders of the Stratford craft beer giant are preparing to open their 25,000 square-foot facility, titled Area Two, on March 11. Dozens joined CEO Brad Hittle and his partners CCO Celment Pellani, Master Brewer Phil Markowski and CFO Peter Doering Thursday to see what they had in store.

Family Business CNC Software Inc. Rides Wave In Manufacturing's Boom Times

CNC Software Inc. and its employees are taking advantage of boom times in manufacturing. The manufacturer of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing equipment plans to hire 25 employees this year, an 11 percent increase, as it capitalizes on strength in aerospace, medical equipment and automotive manufacturing, said Chief Executive Officer Meghan Summers West. The company employs about 180 workers, with 75 percent in Tolland and the remainder in Gig Harbor, Wash., Switzerland and China.

Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma set to close at Stamford mall

The Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma at the Stamford Town Center are set to close within the next two months, while several establishments are preparing to open at the downtown mall - the latest changes for a shopping complex that has already seen high turnover this year. Stamford Town Center officials Monday confirmed the closings of the home goods stores: Pottery Barn is scheduled to shut down in late April and Williams-Sonoma in mid-May.

New England Motor Freight files for bankruptcy, closing Orange County terminal

New England Motor Freight (NEMF), whose trucks have been commonplace on roadways in Westchester and Fairfield counties, has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Ten entities related to NEMF also were included in the petition filed in federal court in Newark, New Jersey. NEMF and the other entities have been operating approximately 36 freight terminals and other facilities in 15 states, according to the petition. These included a plant at 194 Neelytown Road in Montgomery, near Newburgh, and one in Meriden, Connecticut, at 475 Research Parkway.

Popular Downtown Hartford Restaurant Closing

Chango Rosa will close come March 30. The restaurant opened in 2017 at 1 Union Place. The restaurant's tacos will be available through the Bears Restaurant Group at food truck events, catering and Taco Mondays at The Blind Pig Pizza.

INDIA in West Hartford to close this month

INDIA in West Hartford's Blue Back Square will close after dinner service March 23, chef/owner Prasad Chirnomula announced Friday. Chirnomula closed his three New Haven restaurants Thali, Thali Too and Oaxaca Kitchen in September 2017. His New Canaan restaurant, Chef Prasad, remains open, and he will continue cooking, catering, teaching Indian cuisine and organizing gourmet tours to India, he said.

Danbury manufacturer pares jobs target, spars with South Korea partner

As FuelCell Energy's quarterly loss spiked to $33 million for the three-month period ending in January, Connecticut awarded the company a second extension of a job audit for incentives several years ago - while cutting the hiring target by 75 jobs from the number laid out in the original agreement.

Comings & Goings: Faces Beautiful Closing

Faces Beautiful, 289 Post Road East in Playhouse Square, a facial services and skin care products salon, closes at the end of the month, according to owner Gail Sagel. For the past year and a half the salon shared space with Achorn Beauty Bar, adjacent to Achorn Pharmacy and Fine Cosmetics shop. 

Family Dollar to shut down hundreds of stores

Chesapeake, Va.,-based Dollar Tree - which owns the Family Dollar brand - announced Wednesday in its fourth quarter and fiscal report that it was preparing to close 390 Family Dollar stores this year while renovating 1,000 other locations. There are dozens of Family Dollars in Connecticut that cater to several demographics, particularly in sparsely populated rural and highly developed urban areas, offering lower prices than most dedicated grocery stores.

Stamford software company to move to Fairfield

Stamford-based Q88 LLC is moving to Fairfield. The software provider is moving its Connecticut headquarters from Stamford to 1501 Kings Highway East. Q88 signed a long-term, multiyear lease for a 7,800-square-foot building near the Fairfield Metro Station, doubling its space in the process.

Price Rite in Willimantic to Close

The Price Rite in Willimantic will be closing at the end of March. The store, which employs around 40 people, is slated to close on March 23.Company officials said all current full- and part-time employees are being offered comparable positions at other Price Rite Marketplace stores in the region.

Comings & Goings: Lester's Closing

Lester's boutique department store, 606 Post Road East, will close at the end of April, according to employees. It opened three years ago in the space formerly occupied by Wish List. The family-owned business operates at five other locations in New York and New Jersey.

State of Connecticut Career Posters - Job Journeys

For those seeking more information before making a career choice, the Department's "Job Journeys" posters can serve as a valuable resource. These colorful, at-a-glance illustrations of the jobs found in each of Connecticut's 16 career clusters include pay and education information, related jobs,and how they measure up as an "in-demand' career.

Connecticut Career Paths: 2017

This publication is created to provide you the information about the skills and training to prepare yourself for a successful career in one of over 340 occupations in the state. For each of the occupations included in the Career Table, information is provided on number employed, job openings, education and training requirements and the earning potential for your chosen field.

Manufacturing and other Middle skills Jobs

A recent publication by the Connecticut Department of Labor's Office of Research titled, Connecticut's Manufacturing and Other Middle-skills Jobs, was created to inform people seeking work or considering a career change of various employment opportunities. Connecticut areas and industries with the most job postings and related jobs to each occupation are also included in the publication.