Health company to hire 287 with $1.5M assist from state
Lamont: WellSpark’s commitment to expansion more evidence of Connecticut’s competitiveness
Gov. Ned Lamont and WellSpark Health announced Thursday that the wellbeing, disease prevention and management company will expand at its Farmington site, adding nearly 300 employees over the next seven years.
Under an agreement announced Thursday, Wellspark is eligible for up to about $1.5 million in state grants if 287 jobs are created by the end of 2026 and retained for two years.
Established in 2013, WellSpark Health, once known as Care Management Solutions Inc., is focused on economically diverse, multicultural employees who struggle with their health.
“WellSpark is a homegrown company that has shown innovation and rapid growth over the last several years,” Lamont said.
“Today we celebrate another key to our economic recovery — companies making the strategic decision to invest and grow here,’’ Lamont said. “I thank the WellSpark team for their commitment to our state and their recognition that we have the climate and the resources to support long-term business growth.”
“We are dealing with the underlying costs of health care,’’ Lamont said about the work that WellSpark does.
“As Wellspark knows, staying out of the hospital is the best way to do it. And that starts with public health. And that starts with what you are doing.”
Lamont said the expansion was more evidence of Connecticut’s competitiveness.
He noted that the state has had an increase of 16,500 new households moving into the state over the last year, and a 9% increase in new business registrations.
The company currently employs more than 70 people at its Farmington headquarters and is actively recruiting new hires.
“We are a Connecticut-born
company and the State of Connecticut was our first customer,” said Roberta (Bert) Wachtelhausen, president of WellSpark Health.
“We’re now a rapidly growing national company and we chose to stay in Connecticut for many reasons, including the top-notch talent pool of experienced professionals and new college graduates. As a Connecticut native and UConn graduate myself, I know the state is a great place to live and work.”
The state Department of Economic and Community Development is providing “earn-as-you-grow” incentives that provide grants in arrears over seven years as WellSpark Health reaches job targets.
The state money may be used for capital improvements, computer and production equipment and other business-related expenses.