Hoydick Hears About Merits Of Manufacturing Innovation Fund In Stratford

STRATFORD, Conn. — State Rep. Laura Hoydick and other legislators took a tour recently of Bridgeport Fittings' facility in Stratford and held a discussion on the Manufacturing Innovation Fund administered by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

State Rep. Laura Hoydick speaks with Don Erickson, the owner of Albert E Erickson Co. in Stratford, a small manufacturer.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Daily Voice

09/19/2016 4:00 a.m.

Business representatives of Schwerdtle Stamp, Amodex, Nuovo Pasta, Accelerated Achievements, Bead Industries and Bridgeport Fitting were on hand to discuss the merits of the fund.

Beverlee Dacey, president of Amodex, spoke about how the fund has helped her business grow over the last couple of months.

Carl Zuanelli, president of Nouovo Pasta, said that his company used the state funding to invest in a new boiler to pasteurize pasta, which lengthens shelf life and allows the company to reach more consumers.

Kathy Saint of Schwerdtle Stamp talked about the struggles the company went through during the recession and how it weathered a couple moves, received state funding and purchased a large piece of equipment that allows the company to compete with bigger corporations.

Asked what their biggest challenges will be in 2017, some said keeping up with demand, the unknowns and instability coming out of Hartford, staying ahead of advances in technology and competition from bigger, more technological companies.

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