Dear Friend, 

After a busy week in eastern Connecticut, I’m here with an update on new jobs and hiring at Electric Boat, a big milestone for our National Guard and for Northeast Connecticut, and more from the week. Thanks for starting your weekend here with me. 

New Career Opportunities at Electric Boat on "Walk-In Wednesdays" 

There’s huge demand for skilled workers in eastern Connecticut, and one of the clearest signs of that is all the growth we’re seeing from increased submarine construction. As Chairman of the House Seapower Subcommittee, our panel's work to ramp-up the Navy’s undersea fleet has helped lead to thousands of new jobs at EB’s Groton shipyard today, with even more on the horizon. There are so many new careers available that EB has been hosting a weekly hiring event, “Walk-In Wednesdays”, and this week I stopped by to hear from interested workers, and to see where the rubber really meets the road in terms of how our work is helping provide new opportunities for people in our region. 

Rep. Courtney stopped by EB’s Walk-In Wednesday hiring event, and met with Anna Leigh, Tanner Glantz, and others in Electric Boat Employment Office

We saw a very busy Walk-In Wednesday this week, and one of the best parts about the program is how user-friendly it is. In the 30 minutes we were there, more than a dozen people stopped in on their own time without an appointment, some in jeans others in suits, and EB’s team was ready to provide a solid overview of all the opportunities they had available. For some people who were already qualified, it was like an instant interview—several were offered jobs on the spot. For others, EB had lots of ideas about ways people can start honing their skills right now to get job-ready, and fast. They had staff focused specifically on hiring vets, and the foot traffic was really diverse—men and women, varying ages, and from as far away as Trumbull, CT. It’s great to see the message getting out far and wide that there aren’t just great jobs here in eastern CT, there are great careers. 

Electric Boat hosts Walk-In Wednesdays every Wednesday from 12PM-5PM at the Groton Employment Officer. Check out more info in their graphic below and check out openings online here.

Every single day, my team and I are focused on the sort of work that helps connect people in eastern Connecticut with these kinds of great opportunities. I was so grateful for a chance to stop by Walk-In Wednesday this week, and to hear from everyone interested in pursuing these great careers. Big thanks to all of them for taking some time, to Peter Baker from the Metal Trades Council who also helped make this a success, and to Anna Leigh, Tanner Glantz, and the entire EB employment team for hosting us! During November, EB is hosting Walk-In Wednesdays on the 2nd, 9th, 16th. and 30th. There will not be one the week of Thanksgiving.

A New Program at Groton Public Schools to Connect Students with Good Careers

What I saw at EB’s Walk-In Wednesday underscores all the great career opportunities available to young people in eastern Connecticut after they graduate from high school. The hugely successful Youth Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (YMPI) is partnering with schools across our region to connect students with those opportunities. I helped kick-start the YMPI with federal funding, and this year, I secured more resources to expand skills training in Groton Public Schools. As one of my 2022 Community Projects, Groton PS will receive $150,000 to start the Career Pathways Program. Before my stop at EB on Wednesday, I visited Fitch High School to present Superintendent Susan Austin with official notice that the funding has been delivered. 

On Monday, Rep. Courtney visited Fitch High School to present Groton Public Schools Superintendent Susan Austin (right) with official notice of $150,000 in Community Project Funding for the Career Pathways Program. They were joined by Chelsey Courtright (center-right), the district’s new Career Pathways Coordinator, Phillip Piazza (Asst. Superintendent, Groton Public Schools), Fitch High School Principal Edward Keleher (left), and others.

The Career Pathways Program will help make sure that students in Groton have the skills and experience needed to step into openings like the ones at EB and in other growing industries. The Community Project funding will be used to improve Career and Technical Education throughout Groton Public Schools and to hire a part-time Career Counselor who will be based out of Fitch High School and work with all grade levels. Choosing what path to take after graduation is a major decision for young people. In Groton, the Career Pathways Program is going to expand students’ options thanks to 2022 Community Project funding. Click here to learn more about the ten Community Projects I secured funding for the 2022 federal budget. 

The New CT Army National Guard Readiness Center Breaks Ground in Putnam

Today marked a long-awaited milestone for members of our Connecticut National Guard, and Northeast Connecticut. After working alongside our National Guard to press the project forward, I joined Major General Francis Evon, Adjutant General of the CT National Guard, for the official groundbreaking ceremony of the new CT Army National Guard Readiness Center in Putnam. The men and women of our National Guard have stepped up repeatedly to serve our neighbors and our country, they deserve all the support we can provide, and after working in bipartisan fashion to secure $17.5 million in funding to construct the new Putnam Readiness Center, I was excited to finally help deliver this win for them and for our region!  

Rep. Courtney joined Major General Francis Evon, Putnam Mayor Barney Seney, and others at today’s groundbreaking ceremony of the CTARNG Putnam Readiness Center

The new Putnam Readiness Center marks the return of a National Guard presence to the Quiet Corner after more than ten years. It took consistent work to secure the resources, but there was no doubt that the CTARNG was in dire need of this new Readiness Center—their old facility in Westbrook just wasn’t large enough for training exercises or to stockpile important equipment, and it had fallen way behind Federal code and safety standards. I was glad to work alongside Major General Evon to find a solution, and it really took a slate of bipartisan efforts to make it final—from getting the authorizations we needed in the National Defense Authorization (which I helped secure on the House Armed Services Committee), to securing $17.5 million in funding in the budget, and finally to utilizing the National Guard Bureau’s Contingency Fund to offset cost increases. Now, our Guard members will finally be operating out of the modernized facility they deserve, and that our state will really benefit from.  

The new Putnam Readiness Center will provide the CTARNG with a modernized, 37,093 sq. ft. facility with space adequate for training exercises, equipment storage, parking, and much more

Major General Evon has been a truly remarkable leader for our CT National Guard, and I’ve been honored to work with him to push this project forward. Congratulations to our Connecticut Army National Guard, to the Town of Putnam, and to all Northeast Connecticut on this long-sought achievement!

New Technology Being Developed for Virginia-Class Submarines

Our Submariners need cutting-edge equipment and software to navigate oceans safely, precisely, and undetected. As new Virginia-class submarines are built in Groton, they’re being outfitted when new technology that evolves and modernizes the program. Navy supplier SEACORP plays a key role in developing that new tech through software, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering services. I stopped by their Groton facility on Monday for an update on their work. 

On Monday, Rep. Courtney visited SEACORP – a Navy supplier which develops new equipment and technology for Virginia-class submarines

Submarines use acoustic sonar technology to navigate undersea. As part of their services for the Navy, SEACORP has developed advanced sonar antennas which provide more information. Onboard subs, sonar operators are tasked with sorting through that data and identifying potential threats – that means while we upgrade our antennas, we also need to support our servicemembers’ ability to effectively interpret the data they generate. In Groton, the team at SEACORP is developing new data processing systems to do just that. These new systems will separate and highlight antenna data for sonar operators – increasing efficiency, reducing fatigue, improving ship safety, and strengthening our undersea capabilities. Thanks to Sam Tannatt and the entire team at SEACORP in Groton for showing me around the facility and giving me the rundown on this new tech!  

In Groton, SEACORP is developing new data processing systems to assist sonar operators onboard Virginia-class submarines in interpreting data and identifying potential threats

A New Infrastructure Project for Voluntown 

Since we passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year, we’ve seen work in eastern Connecticut getting dialed up. Some are big, high-profile projects like repairs to the Gold Star Bridge in New London-Groton and the Haddam Swing Bridge -- but for small towns like Voluntown, repairs to infrastructure like the Forge Hill Road Bridge are the sort of long-term investments that really pay dividends for their local economy. On Tuesday, I joined Voluntown First Selectman Travey Hanson to highlight Infrastructure Law funding on its way to the town to repair the 101-year old bridge.  

On Tuesday, Rep. Courtney joined Voluntown First Selectman Tracey Hanson at the Forge Hill Road Bridge which will have much-needed repairs done thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

The Forge Hill Road Bridge is in poor condition. From where First Selectman Hanson and I stood, we could clearly see cracks in its structure. Currently, the Connecticut Department of Transportation lists the bridge as “non-conforming” meaning it does not fit the current requirements for an approved bridge. Repair work has been on CT DOT’s “to-do” list for years – but the funding to make it happen wasn’t there, and the bridge was at risk of total closure. Thanks to the Infrastructure Law, that’s not going to happen. Repair and upgrade work to the Forge Hill Road Bridge will be 80% funded by the IIJA and state funding covering the remaining 20%. Work is scheduled to take place from 2024-2025. 

Thanks as always for reading my update. If we can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to give my Norwich office a call at (860) 886-0139. Have a great weekend! 

Sincerely,

Joe Courtney
Member of Congress

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