seCTer played a leading role during the May 14 tour of South Fork Wind Farm, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm, developed by the Ørsted-Eversource joint venture.
In support of this event, which provided a first-hand look at the 12 turbines and marine substation comprising South Fork Wind, seCTer chartered the high-speed ‘Cecilia Ann’ from Cross Sound Ferry in New London.
State lawmakers, leaders in Gov. Lamont’s administration, municipal and business leaders, and other stakeholders from across the state enjoyed a sunny and, thankfully, calm day at sea to learn about and record their own photos and video of this historic energy infrastructure project.
Departing from the Cross Sound Ferry terminal adjacent to the rebuilt State Pier, where turbine towers, blades, and nacelles were partially assembled before being shipped to the wind farm, all attendees could witness Connecticut’s role at the forefront of this new American industry.
South Fork Wind provides 130MW of energy to about 70,000 homes and businesses on Long Island and is located about 35 miles east of Montauk Point, Long Island, NY, and 20 miles southeast of Block Island, RI. Another 65 turbines for Revolution Wind, to serve some 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island, are now being assembled at State Pier. That project will be followed by the 84-turbine Sunrise Wind, to deliver energy to nearly 600,000 homes in New York.
seCTer Executive Director Paul Whitescarver served as host and emcee for the tour, pointing out opportunities represented by a new supply chain and careers required to support this new American industry.
Bill Quinlan, President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects at Eversource, and David Ortiz, Head of Government Affairs for Ørsted’s New England portfolio, each spoke about their company’s role in this historic project and their continuing work to help states meet their climate change goals by transitioning to clean, domestic, sustainable energy.
The tour resulted in significant traditional and social media coverage, enhancing efforts by seCTer and all stakeholders to educate the public and policymakers about the benefits of offshore wind energy, and Connecticut’s role in providing the infrastructure, workers, and technology bringing it to fruition.
seCTer’s work was on full display in front of a large crowd of state and regional leaders, statewide media and the general public during the June 6 opening celebration of the renovated Riverbank Building in the heart of downtown New London on Bank Street.
The event was held on the first-floor, where Tox Brewing has relocated from outside downtown to the heart of the waterfront commercial district. Tox expanded into a 14,000-square-foot space from its original 1,400-square-foot space and purchased new equipment with the help of a $300,000 Boost loan from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development administered by seCTer and a $20,000 seCTerRise grant.
The Riverbank was renovated by High Tide Capital using historic renovation tax credits. The 1886 building now features 32 mixed-income apartments on the upper floors, all of which are already claimed by people seeking to live in downtown New London.
High Tide Capital invested several million dollars to complete the renovation, a commitment highlighted during the event.
With Tox Brewing anchoring the retail aspect of the project, seCTer Executive Director Paul Whitescarver was invited to speak and said the project represented a “pivot point” in the City’s efforts to get empty buildings filled again after the COVID-19 pandemic stalled many projects that had been underway. Mayor Passero called it a “big, big day for the City and especially downtown.”
The headline in The Day boasted “The Riverbank completion heralds Bank Street revival.”
And seCTer was at the heart of it!
Connecticut leaders turned to seCTer when it came time to act on recommendations from Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced last October creation of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative as the body that would put the Roadmap strategies and goals into action. His Department of Economic and Community Development tasked seCTer with serving as an incubator for this non-profit entity, providing fiduciary and administrative support through the early stages.
The initial Board of Directors was established in January under the leadership of Chairman Paul Lavoie, the state’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, and included seCTer Executive Director Paul Whitescarver. In April, the Board expanded from the original five members to 15, including representatives from academia, business, and leaders in the offshore wind industry nationally and internationally.
Lamont’s vision is for the Connecticut Wind Collaborative to create a regional industry cluster based on the existing skilled maritime and high-tech workforce. The Collaborative’s work will focus on four strategic pillars identified in the Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap: infrastructure and real estate, supply chain, workforce, and research and development.
Initial efforts are focused on collaboration with Rhode Island, which, like Connecticut, is already well established in the offshore wind sector. Rhode Island is home to the five-turbine Block Island Wind Farm, the nation’s first offshore wind farm. Additionally, Ocean State workers produce advanced foundation components for offshore wind turbines and some of the first U.S.-built vessels for operations and maintenance crews. The Community College of Rhode Island will soon be home to a Global Wind Organization training certificate program providing workers with skills in working at heights, sea survival, first aid, fire awareness and more.
Rhode Island is also home to WindWinRI, an offshore wind energy career pathway training program for students and adults. WindWinRI was established through the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of former Executive Director Kristin Urbach, who is now the first Executive Director of the CT Wind Collaborative. North Kingstown shares a distinction with New London in that both are considered hubs for the offshore wind industry in the Northeast, with New London’s State Pier providing the premier marshaling and assembly facility for offshore wind turbines
The groundwork for this two-state collaboration is based on the decades of experience that business leaders and tradesmen have in working together to manufacture submarines for the U.S. Navy.
The combination of this two-state, skilled maritime workforce and infrastructure improvements to rebuild State Pier provides a solid foundation for a larger collaborative in New England.
seCTer staff in May presented the owner of Moromi, producer of a handcrafted, Japanese-style soy sauce, miso and hot sauces, a check for $9,912 from the seCTerRise grant program.
The funding will be used to upgrade equipment and hire staff, which will allow co-owner Bob Florence to spend more time marketing the high-end sauces to premiuoer chefs and specialy shops around the country.
Florence is in partnership with his wife, Debbi Michiko Florence and local restaurateur James Wayman, who is akso a partner in the popular local eateries, Nana’s Bakery and Pizza, Nana’s Westerly,and Stonemill Bakery.
Dan Chaplin and his wife, Emily, could be poster children for the classic American entrepreneurs.
Dan works seven days a week in his one-man CNC machine shop called Forge 41. Emily works full time as a teacher and helps Dan when she can. Together they form one of the many mom-and-pop shops at the heart of the nation’s defense industry by providing parts for submarines built by General Dynamics Electric Boat. And seCTer is playing a key role in keeping the Forge 41 team, and many others, resilient as they pursue their dreams and keep the supply chain flowing.
seCTer provided Forge 41 with a Boost Loan of $50,000, which allowed Dan to purchase additional CNC milling machines and other equipment that will allow him to broaden his scope of products and clients. He currently works predominantly with Department of Defense contractors but has done work for Mystic Aquarium, University of Rhode Island and the U.S. Navy among others.
A broader scope of clients will lead to a stronger, more sustainable business which will lead to opportunities to hire workers, which will strengthen the regional economy.
Yes, we’re talking about an incredibly small scale, but small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, and when a region has lots of successful small businesses growing over time, the region wins. That scenario, repeated over and over, is seCTer’s goal. To that end, seCTer has lent $1.5 million to small businesses through the CT Small Business Boost Fund program.
After serving aboard submarines for seven years as an electronics technician, Dan left the U.S. Navy and worked for a defense contractor installing equipment on subs. He officially established Forge 41 about 18 months ago and generated $130,000 in sales last year. He’s already beat that mark this year and is working toward a goal of $200,000 in sales this year.
When asked what it’s like to own his own small business, Dan said “It’s crazy, it’s scary; there’s sleepless nights, but it’s good. I’m hoping to grow and add a 3D printer and more powder coating capabilities for the commercial side in addition to the military side.”
“seCTer’s help has been invaluable – not just the financial resources, but their general business guidance too,” Dan said.
Region’s role as offshore wind energy hub continues to grow
seCTer’s role in the regional offshore wind energy industry continues to expand. In January, leaders in the CT Department of Economic and Community Development asked seCTer to serve as the incubator for the Connecticut Wind Collaborative.
The CWC is part of Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap, which calls for the new nonprofit to work collaboratively with business, industry, academia, across state agencies, and alongside stakeholders in neighboring states to advance the regional supply chain and workforce necessary to meet the growing demand for offshore wind energy.
In addition to promoting offshore wind activities across the state and executing priorities identified by the Roadmap, the Wind Collaborative will work with neighboring states to establish a regional offshore wind industry cluster.
seCTer’s current role is to serve as fiduciary and to provide administrative support and office space as necessary as outlined in a Shared Services Agreement. seCTer Executive Director Paul Whitescarver serves as Secretary of the CWC Board of Directors, and Paul Lavoie, CT Chief Manufacturing Officer, is Chairman. Kate Aufhauser, Gov. Ned Lamont’s Strategic Advisor for Economic Development, and Andrew Lavigne, Manager of the state’s Clean Economy Program at the DECD, will serve as co-vice chairs.
In the spirit of the Wind Collaborative’s commitment to multi-state cooperation, the board includes William Cox, Vice President of Business Development and Investment at Rhode Island Commerce. A Nominating Committee is now working to recommend 10 additional Board members from across industry, academia, and government. The search for a full-time Executive Director is underway, and requirements for the position can be viewed here
“Our role in supporting the launch of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative follows seCTer’s success in the first round of the federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant program that secured funding to support the offshore wind industry across the region,” Whitescarver said. “The Wind Collaborative is a non-profit agency intended to ensure that Connecticut remains a leader in bringing this new American industry to the region in a collaborative way that benefits New England workers and families.”
seCTer received significant media coverage during the announcement, including in The Day, and several trade publications, including offshoreWIND.biz, eco Magazine and several others.
Last October, Gov. Ned Lamont, and the Governors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, announced a New England offshore wind multi-state coordination memorandum of understanding – the first of its kind in the nation. This MOU creates a pathway for a coordinated selection of offshore wind projects as each state solicits wind energy generation through their respective state procurements. Under the plan, the states agreed to coordinate their solicitations for proposals from offshore wind farm developers. Although each state will run its own procurements, the agreement is intended to allow developers to save money by bidding larger projects across three states and reaching a broader market. Responses to all three states’ solicitations are due March 27.
Seed funding for the Wind Collaborative includes $577,500 received from the joint venture of Ørsted and Eversource, as part of their supply chain and workforce development commitments tied to their Revolution Wind project. Revolution Wind, to be located 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut shoreline, is Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm and is scheduled to begin delivering power to the grid by the end of 2025. Revolution Wind will include up to 65 turbines and provide 304mw of energy to the state. Another 400mw will power homes in Rhode Island.
Wind turbine components will be assembled at and shipped from State Pier in the Port of New London, where work recently wrapped up on the 12 turbines of South Fork Wind, which is already providing power to the New York grid for homes on Long Island.
“The Connecticut Wind Collaborative will have an important role in helping to guide the development of an offshore wind economy in our state,” said Gov. Lamont. “Right now, throughout the United States, the offshore wind industry is seeking locations to grow and expand, and Connecticut has the opportunity to add hundreds of new good-paying jobs in this sector. We must work to ensure that Connecticut builds an offshore wind ecosystem that boosts local economies and spurs investment while also providing consumers with a source of clean, reliable, and affordable power.”
”We are very excited to launch the Connecticut Wind Collaborative. The Wind Collaborative will bring stakeholders across the region together to support the growing U.S. offshore wind industry,” said Chairperson Paul Lavoie, who also serves as Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer. “Offshore wind is an important component of Governor Lamont’s drive toward renewable energy sources to combat climate change. The Wind Collaborative is going to be the catalyst for growth in offshore wind by putting Connecticut at the epicenter of a regional coordinated effort. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand up a new industry in Connecticut and the region and the Wind Collaborative will be at the forefront of that effort.”
“Connecticut has established itself as a leader in the offshore wind industry, thanks to its foresight, its commitment to the fight against climate change, and its willingness to invest in the local jobs and infrastructure needed to grow this new American industry,” said Nicole Verdi, Head of Government & Policy, New England, Ørsted. “Ørsted is proud to support the Connecticut Wind Collaborative as we work together to grow the industry across the region, drive economic development and job creation, and meet clean energy goals.”
“Connecticut’s Offshore Wind Strategic Roadmap emphasizes collaboration and how crucial it is to accelerate the equitable and sustainable growth of the region’s clean energy future,” said Ray Collins, Manager of Government Affairs, Eversource. “At Eversource, we firmly believe collaboration is critical to ensuring a cleaner, healthier future for everyone, and we are excited to support the Connecticut Wind Collaborative’s mission in the coming years as we bring more clean, renewable offshore wind energy to New England’s electric grid.”
New approach addresses needs at different stages of business growth
In an effort to increase the effectiveness of grant funding for small business growth, job creation and the “import of money” to this region, the seCTerRise program is being divided into two categories: a $10,000 grant and a $25,000 grant. Businesses that meet metrics such as, but not limited to, number of years in business, annual revenue, and number of employees may apply for one of two of the grants. Applications will be accepted for the two funding opportunities as of March 1st, 2024.
“This revision to the program reflects seCTer’s broad scope of activities across the business spectrum,” said Executive Director Paul Whitescarver. “We are the primary support mechanism for both, start-ups and established businesses and this better reflects the support we provide through the various stages of business development.”
seCTerRise is a competitive grant program, funded through the Department of Economic and Community Development, designed to help businesses grow. Several seCTerRise grants up to $10,000 will continue to be available to newer, smaller businesses, while a smaller number of grants up to $25,000 will be available to established businesses that have greater potential to bring in outside revenue to the region. In both cases, funds must be used to expand the business within a defined project scope.
The seCTerRise small business grant funding is available to businesses that have operated for at least one year and have annual revenue of $1.5 million or less. Funding may be used to purchase equipment, inventory, or professional services. Any inventory purchased with grant funds must be directly related to the grant project.
The seCTerRise established business grant funding is available to businesses that have operated for approximately four years, have at least five full-time employees, and have annual revenue between $1.5 million and $5 million. Funding may be used to purchase equipment or professional services, but not
inventory.
Applications for both programs need to show how the grant project will help expand the business and include a clear budget and timeline for the project. Job creation or skill training are also key factors for consideration.
Owners of established businesses will be required to show a pattern of growth, and whether there is product or process innovation or research and development associated with the project.
50% of seCTerRise awards will be made to businesses that are minority, veteran, disabled, or women-owned, or businesses located in a distressed municipality. Visit seCTerRise – seCTer for all eligibility and location requirements.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy will be more easily available
As the federally designated economic development agency for southeastern Connecticut, seCTer is required to produce the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) report.
The most recent CEDS was released this past summer and a digital version is available for broader and more convenient distribution and use by municipalities, businesses, and the public at large. This digital version is provided by the StateBook platform, and provides interactive capabilities.
As described by the US Economic Development Administration, a CEDS report should be developed “with broad-based community participation and result in a document that is readily accessible to regional stakeholders. Potential partners for developing a CEDS could include government agencies, private sector interests, education providers, non-profits, community and labor groups, workforce boards, utilities, etc. Stakeholders should be able to use it as a guide to understanding the regional economy and to take action to improve it.”
A CEDS report consists of four main elements: summary background; SWOT analysis; strategic direction/action plan, evaluation framework.
The StateBook platform allows users to compare locations to identify the most strategic opportunities for investment, confirm project viability, and mitigate risk across disparate data sources, multiple geography levels, and over time.
This platform will allow our staff to more fully utilize CEDS data by filtering information to more efficiently compare locations and create custom reports using maps, microsites, and comparison platforms.
seCTer is about to launch its Resilience Assessment, a tool to help businesses identify potential challenges and begin formulating plans to address challenges before they arise.
The assessment identifies a broad range of potential issues, from cyclical economic downturns to national and international political affairs, disruptions in specific industries nationally and internationally, climate change, and challenges on a regional basis such as the loss of a major employer or a military base closure.
A survey to be completed by business owners is included in the assessment and will serve dual purposes: helping seCTer identify trends in regional business concerns; helping businesses consider potential issues they may not have previously considered.
Survey questions range from basic demographic information about the company’s owners and employees to commuting methods (public transit, walking, biking, driving), whether the facility is owned or rented and its elevation, site vulnerability to weather events, workforce challenges, insurance coverage and financial resources to weather a disruption, and the existence of a disaster preparedness plan.
Business owners who participate in seCTer grant and loan programs are urged to complete the survey as part of the qualifying process.
The assessment is scheduled to be released later this fall.
Nearly 500 attendees participated in the two-day Northeast Regional Matchmaker 2023 Business Training and Resource Fair in August to make connections with government procurement managers and government prime contractors in hopes of landing contracts from the federal to local level.
Hosted by CT APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC) at the Mystic Marriott, it was the first such event in Connecticut and nearly doubled the attendance of the previous Matchmaker held in Rhode Island prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. CT APEX is an affiliate of seCTer.
“We were thrilled with the response on both sides of the table – local, state and federal government procurement specialists and businesses of all sizes seeking to expand into new opportunities,” said Marisol Herrera, State Director of CT APEX Accelerator.
Business owners were able to meet individually with these buyers from several government agencies in 10-minute “pitch sessions” during which they were able to market their goods or services. The event also included information sessions about requirements for a broad range of government contract work and a cybersecurity training and information session for small to medium-sized businesses and those in the federal manufacturing supply chain.
Throughout the event, attendees also had the opportunity to meet with regional APEX Accelerators from across New England and New York as well as representatives from the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, Women’s Business Development Center, regional SBAs, universities, and other organizations.
“The Matchmaker was especially helpful for businesses owned by veterans, minorities, women, Native Americans, the members of the LGBTQ community, as well as those operating in distressed communities and Historically Underutilized Business Zones since there is a strong preference to award contracts to businesses in these categories,” Herrera said.
In addition to CT APEX, sponsors included seCTer, CT Department of Administrative Services, SBA, Northeast Regional Council of the Department of Defense, and the University of Hartford’s Entrepreneurial & Women’s Business Center.