10 replies to this topic

[doz180]

1,000 blue collar jobs may be coming to CT.

On January 29, Ansonia auto dealer Mike Healey announced to a credulous crowd of 200 that a newly formed consortium called Eurospeed USA had begun site selection for assembly of motorcycles, motor scooters and other products manufactured in China for distribution in North America and Europe.

Healey, who is also president of Healey Ford, said the new venture was looking at six sites, including the former Ansonia Copper & Brass plant as well as sites in West Haven, Waterbury and Meriden. For now Eurospeed will be headquartered at Healey's dealership.

www.conntact.com/article_page.lasso?id=40680

[HartfordTycoon]

doz180, on Feb 6 2007, 03:56 PM, said:

1,000 blue collar jobs may be coming to CT.

On January 29, Ansonia auto dealer Mike Healey announced to a credulous crowd of 200 that a newly formed consortium called Eurospeed USA had begun site selection for assembly of motorcycles, motor scooters and other products manufactured in China for distribution in North America and Europe.

Healey, who is also president of Healey Ford, said the new venture was looking at six sites, including the former Ansonia Copper & Brass plant as well as sites in West Haven, Waterbury and Meriden. For now Eurospeed will be headquartered at Healey's dealership.

www.conntact.com/article_page.lasso?id=40680

I saw something about this in the Courant too. It's great news. Manufacturing jobs are sorely needed.

[JimSawhill]

doz180, on Feb 6 2007, 03:56 PM, said:

1,000 blue collar jobs may be coming to CT.

On January 29, Ansonia auto dealer Mike Healey announced to a credulous crowd of 200 that a newly formed consortium called Eurospeed USA had begun site selection for assembly of motorcycles, motor scooters and other products manufactured in China for distribution in North America and Europe.

Healey, who is also president of Healey Ford, said the new venture was looking at six sites, including the former Ansonia Copper & Brass plant as well as sites in West Haven, Waterbury and Meriden. For now Eurospeed will be headquartered at Healey's dealership.

www.conntact.com/article_page.lasso?id=40680

Hmmm...

     I think Connecticut is still a great place to manufacture items. I just wish the state would realize that they need to be more BUSINESS FRIENDLY. I still think if they reduced the income tax -- and not raise it like Rell wants -- and make it a right to work state, business would move into Connecticut. Toyota announced that they are building another plant - this one is in Mississippi but 25 states were asking for it. I wondered if Connecticut ever thought of going for Toyota?

JimS

[JayHass]

JimSawhill, on Mar 3 2007, 11:40 AM, said:

Hmmm...

     I think Connecticut is still a great place to manufacture items. I just wish the state would realize that they need to be more BUSINESS FRIENDLY. I still think if they reduced the income tax -- and not raise it like Rell wants -- and make it a right to work state, business would move into Connecticut. Toyota announced that they are building another plant - this one is in Mississippi but 25 states were asking for it. I wondered if Connecticut ever thought of going for Toyota?

JimS

Excellent points and most likely the good folks running the state of CT didn't even know Toyota made cars in the US.  

I beat that drum in Wtby for years.  We had a skilled workforce out of work, industrial infrastructure out the wazoo, empty factories just sitting - why...WHY didn't someone court GM, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Honda whatever to build a plant of some form in the city with big time incentives?  Nope, they tore down the factory and built a mall.  Way to go!

[Lowerdeck]

All the American companies are closing down auto plants.  Chrysler is shutting one in Newark, Del. in a year or two.  Meanwhile the foreign companies are all expanding over here.

And I seriously doubt Toyota considered moving anywhere near the Northeast simply due to the cost factor.  Even though Bridgeport or Waterbury could hugely benefit from having an auto plant.

[drc72]

Lowerdeck, on Mar 11 2007, 08:51 PM, said:

All the American companies are closing down auto plants.  Chrysler is shutting one in Newark, Del. in a year or two.  Meanwhile the foreign companies are all expanding over here.

And I seriously doubt Toyota considered moving anywhere near the Northeast simply due to the cost factor.  Even though Bridgeport or Waterbury could hugely benefit from having an auto plant.

Manufacturing is done here, until we can make it more economical for companies to move here.

[JimSawhill]

drc72, on Mar 12 2007, 09:52 AM, said:

Manufacturing is done here, until we can make it more economical for companies to move here.

drc72:

     Manufacturing is done in Connecticut? I don't think so - not now!! I just wish that the legislators would realize that we do need manufacturing jobs. Connecticut shoppers can't spend all of their time SHOPPING, the state needs to create more high paying jobs.

     How? Lets see -- we need to make the state a right to work state. Yes, I used to work (part time) at Caldor. Every week, I had $$ taking out of my PAYCHECK for union dues. What did I get for it? Nothing, except a monthly newsletter that made TASS look right wing! Sorry, I don't think union dues should be funded for ANY CANDIDATES.
     Also, I believe that Connecticut should give incentives to manufacturers - especially new corporations (like the scooter idea). Small businesses are the future of America and the local vo-tech should create a entreprenuer study program. (Also maybe Grasso Southeastern should have a naval architecture study program and Cheney should have an aeronautical study program.)
     Also, I believe they need to lower taxes. If they did that, people would move in - not move out.

JimS

[Lowerdeck]

JimSawhill, on Mar 12 2007, 08:22 PM, said:

Also, I believe they need to lower taxes. If they did that, people would move in - not move out.

Hell might freeze over before Republicans take over the legislature and the spending comes under control.  And it's more likely that Jesus will come back before we see real tax relief.

It's really frustrating at times.  This current government just assumes that a third of the people are office workers in New York, another third are office workers in Hartford or New Haven, and the last third are some peons working at McDonalds or a shopping mall for minimum wage, and any raise of that will get them elected back into office.

I come from a family of blue collar workers, they are disappearing from New England.  It's hard to make a living.  I graduated high school four years ago and there are people I graduated with who still can't find good jobs no matter how hard they look because nothing is here.  This state does about the most it can to keep everyone happy yet poke a stick into the kidneys.  And I'm hoping sooner or later the electorate of this state realizes they are being taxed too much and too many precious jobs are leaving because of failing policies by the legislature.  The people of this state need tax relief, businesses need a reason to remain or come here instead of looking elsewhere.  Hopefully companies will make this happen, let them build back Bridgeport, Hartford, Waterbury, wherever it's needed.


Note: I don't know how much of a political rant I can go on.  I tried staying on topic at least.  If anyone got a problem, just let me know for future reference.  Don't want to start any problems.

[JayHass]

Lowerdeck, on Mar 11 2007, 08:51 PM, said:

All the American companies are closing down auto plants.  Chrysler is shutting one in Newark, Del. in a year or two.  Meanwhile the foreign companies are all expanding over here.

And I seriously doubt Toyota considered moving anywhere near the Northeast simply due to the cost factor.  Even though Bridgeport or Waterbury could hugely benefit from having an auto plant.

It doesn't even have to be a full blown plant, in fact it wasn't something I was even thinking of on that scale.   Auto makers have cottage plants that just produce certain items like HVAC systems, door skins, seats etc.  New Departure in Bristol was a good example.  GM invested and built a nice facility and it went well until they fell on their face and HAD to close up some places.

[JimSawhill]

Lowerdeck, on Mar 11 2007, 07:51 PM, said:

All the American companies are closing down auto plants.  Chrysler is shutting one in Newark, Del. in a year or two.  Meanwhile the foreign companies are all expanding over here.

And I seriously doubt Toyota considered moving anywhere near the Northeast simply due to the cost factor.  Even though Bridgeport or Waterbury could hugely benefit from having an auto plant.

lowerdeck:

     It doesn't have to be a full fledge auto plant, but maybe a plant to make auto parts - Echlin had a plant in Branford. I knew Faria Instruments is made in Uncasville. Whelan lighting is made in Connecticut, but Connecticut needs to rebuild their manufacturing base.
     A few years ago - I read an article about some plants returning to the Northeast from China -- one CEO of a screen company based in Stonington, CT, said, "Yes, the prices for screens made in China was cheap, but the QUALITY wasn't. That is why we are back in Stonington."
     Now, lets get manufacturing back in CT!

[JimSawhill]

Hmmm..

     Any news about EuroSpeed?

JimS