On my way to the TTM campus at the Stafford Industrial Park on Monday, I noticed a sign that says the company always hiring. It was a sign (literally!) of what was to come. A group of state officials, including Governor Ned Lamont, TTM Technologies executives and employees, and Stafford’s officials, including First Selectman Bill Morrison were gathered to announce some good news. TTM is expanding its Stafford workforce, adding 126 new jobs.
According to a press release from AdvanceCT, TTM was looking to “invest in modernization and growth opportunities for its customer base which supports national security objectives by adding employees and capital investments.”
After starting in a Rockville basement in 1964, TTM moved to a dormant mill in Stafford in 1967. In a way, TTM saw the future, as printed circuit boards for electronics may not have seemed as commonplace, and, in fact, integral as it does today. Since then, the company has grown to be an important part of Stafford’s economy, already employing about 770 people at its Stafford sites. Now, the company is not only planning on hiring more than 120 new employees, but it plans on upscaling its current workforce – with the help of state programs designed to help companies grow.
Phil Titterton, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of TTM, was one of the people who spoke at Monday’s event. He said that after closing several West Coast facilities, the company knew it needed to realign its factory base. A press release from 2023 said, “The plant closures are expected to improve both facility and talent utilization across our footprint resulting in improved profitability. TTM expects to continue to support impacted customers at its remaining manufacturing sites.” On a Federal level, the Biden administration has also focused on supply chain issues, especially around defense-critical components. Which brings us back to Stafford.
When I asked Titterton why TTM decided to expand in Stafford and not one of its many other locations, he told me that the Stafford campus “knows what they’re doing.” It’s grown from one building to seven over the years, and the highly skilled workforce already here made this expansion “low risk.”
Additionally, according to press releases, The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) will support TTM's growth by providing up to $867,155 in tax rebates contingent on the company creating and retaining the new full-time jobs over seven years.
The state’s commitment to developing a well-trained workforce is part of what makes this expansion possible. Daniel O’Keefe, the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development and the state’s Chief Innovation Officer, says it's been an “iterative and collaborative” process. He says his office looks for companies that are already growing to invest alongside them. He also hailed TTM for investing in the community and growing in what he calls a “cultural” way – looking to the future of not just the company, but helping to advance the careers of the people who work there.
Back in January, First Selectman Morrison and State Representative Kurt Vail co-signed a letter of support from the Department of Economic and Community Development to Dan Weber, TTM's Executive Vice President and General Counsel. The letter accompanied a Workforce Development Proposal and said, "We are confident you will find it comprehensive and be assured in knowing the state has the resources available and ready to assist in onboarding your new talent."
Of today's event, Morrison said, "I was happy to represent the Town of Stafford and welcome Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, Senator Gordon, and Governor Lamont today and to congratulate TTM on their announcement of an expansion plan in Stafford. TTM has been an amazing employer for the town of Stafford and a great partner. Congratulations TTM!"
For its part, back in 2020 the state created a Workforce Development Unit and invested $70 million in ARPA funds to develop Career ConneCT, a portal that helps entry-level workers, especially those from underserved populations, train for in-demand careers. Dr. Kelli Vallieres, Executive Director of the state’s Workforce Development Unit, told me that in addition to working with community colleges to ensure Connecticut’s workforce is building the right skills, they are piloting programs in high schools. She said that they are working on bringing some technical programming to seniors at comprehensive high schools to help prepare them for careers and piloting a program that would give students at comprehensive schools access to the equipment at technical schools on the weekends.
Stafford’s State Senator Jeff Gordon and Governor Ned Lamont also spoke. Senator Gordon thanked TMM for “making Stafford your home” and expressed hope that Connecticut could not only continue to woo out-of-state companies but also grow existing ones.
Governor Lamont commended TTM for creating good jobs and spoke of Stafford’s history of changing with the times. He said Stafford has transformed from an agricultural town to a mill town and now houses advanced manufacturing. John Adams and his melancholia, cured by Stafford’s springs, even made their way into the speech. In the AdvanceCT press release, the Governor said, “I am thrilled that they are growing their business here in Connecticut and leveraging what we know is one of the top talent pools and workforces in the country.”
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