The Southeastern Connecticut Region (SECT), which includes the 21 municipalities within New London County, has undergone a radical restructuring of its economy over the past decade. In fact, this region has probably experienced a more fundamental economic transformation than any other region in the Northeast. SECT is home to both the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, the Atlantic homeport for nuclear attack submarines, and Electric Boat, which designs, manufactures, and repairs submarines for the U.S. Navy. In 1990, these two facilities, along with the many contractors and subcontractors, provided about 37,000 high paying jobs for residents of the region. Moreover, with more than $10,000 per capita in defense expenditures, New London County was the most defense-dependent county in the nation.
With defense downsizing in the 1990s, regional leaders grew increasingly concerned about the potential economic impacts of anticipated job losses. This led to the creation in 1990 of a grassroots organization called the Southeastern Connecticut Economic Development Coalition. Hundreds of individuals from business, government, labor, education, the economic development community, and private citizens participated in an effort to develop and implement a strategic action plan for the region’s future. The SouthEastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer), a public-private partnership of municipalities, business, higher education, labor, and community organizations serving the area encompassing New London County, was established with the mission of strengthening and diversifying the region’s economy.
By 2000, as anticipated, 17,000 defense-industry positions were eliminated. While this could have been an economic disaster, what could not have been forecast in the early 1990s was the explosive growth in what has become the region’s new economic strength, the tourism and entertainment industry cluster, primarily through the development and eventual expansion of two major casinos — Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. By 2004, with over 20,000 jobs at the two casinos, the region has become almost as dependent upon these two entities as it was in the 1990s on the Submarine Base and Electric Boat.
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The Southeastern Connecticut Region (SECT), which includes the 21 municipalities within New London County, has undergone a radical restructuring of its economy over the past decade. In fact, this region has probably experienced a more fundamental economic transformation than any other region in the Northeast. SECT is home to both the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, the Atlantic homeport for nuclear attack submarines, and Electric Boat, which designs, manufactures, and repairs submarines for the U.S. Navy. In 1990, these two facilities, along with the many contractors and subcontractors, provided about 37,000 high paying jobs for residents of the region. Moreover, with more than $10,000 per capita in defense expenditures, New London County was the most defense-dependent county in the nation.
With defense downsizing in the 1990s, regional leaders grew increasingly concerned about the potential economic impacts of anticipated job losses. This led to the creation in 1990 of a grassroots organization called the Southeastern Connecticut Economic Development Coalition. Hundreds of individuals from business, government, labor, education, the economic development community, and private citizens participated in an effort to develop and implement a strategic action plan for the region’s future. The SouthEastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer), a public-private partnership of municipalities, business, higher education, labor, and community organizations serving the area encompassing New London County, was established with the mission of strengthening and diversifying the region’s economy.
By 2000, as anticipated, 17,000 defense-industry positions were eliminated. While this could have been an economic disaster, what could not have been forecast in the early 1990s was the explosive growth in what has become the region’s new economic strength, the tourism and entertainment industry cluster, primarily through the development and eventual expansion of two major casinos — Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. By 2004, with over 20,000 jobs at the two casinos, the region has become almost as dependent upon these two entities as it was in the 1990s on the Submarine Base and Electric Boat.
Click Here to Read Full CEDS Report