The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Advanced coatings maker to add jobs in Thomaston, Cheshire
A Thomaston manufacturing company that also has operations in Cheshire has reached a deal with state officials to receive incentives over a six-year period in return for adding 36 jobs.
Ned Lamont announced the agreement with Element 119, a limited liability company that makes advanced ceramic coatings for the aerospace, marine and auto industries. Lamont said the company currently employs 14 people, with plans of adding 36 over two years.
“Advanced manufacturing is a major component of Connecticut’s economic future, and companies like Element 119 are leading the way in creating the innovative products that are in demand throughout the world,” Lamont said.
Element 119 was founded by Andrew Zeppa in 2010. The company has sales in more than 40 countries worldwide and is currently pursuing several growth opportunities with the federal government, according to Zeppa, who is president and owner of the Element 119.
“Element 119 is growing fast and making new investments our facilities,” he said. “We are currently making leasehold improvements in our Cheshire location and adding a new bottling line and lab technology equipment at the Thomaston plant.”
Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman said the state is supporting the project by providing a grant in arrears up to $242,000. That money is contingent upon the firm creating and retaining the 36 additional full-time jobs, Lehman said.
“Manufacturing employment has increased for eight consecutive months in Connecticut and the state’s strategic investments and programs to support this critical sector are clearly having a positive impact,” he said.
Lehman said Element 119 won’t see any of the grant money the state has promised until the third year of the agreement, which is for nine years.
“When we talk to a company, we’ll have a face-toface meeting,” he said. “That’s when the clock start ticking on the benefits.”
Lehman said the amount that Element 119 is receiving is a percentage rebate on the net new income taxes realized by the state. That percentage is based on the number of new employees multiplied by their salaries and the income tax rate, he said.
Elemeent 119’s Thomaston manufacturing plant is on Reynolds Bridge Road. The company’s Cheshire facility is on West Johnson Avenue.