Dri-Air President Charles Sears shows Chris Davis some products ready to be shipped
State Representative Christopher Davis has kept busy this summer visiting local businesses to hear their thoughts on what Connecticut can do to improve the business environment. With 4,100 lost jobs in June and an unemployment rate hovering above 9% its clear something must be done to turn things around.
“We can’t sustain the path we’re currently on,” Davis said. “Everyday we see more and more evidence that businesses can’t sustain more taxes and regulations. The cost of doing business is far too high in this state already- we need to help businesses cut costs, not add to them.”
In the last few weeks Davis has visited a number of businesses in East Windsor including KTI Turbo Tech, a leader in electron beam and continuous strip welding and Dri-Air Industries, a company that specializes in drying technology.
“These businesses are not only important to our town and region but to the entire state of Connecticut,” Davis said. “Just about every business I’ve visited has told me they are getting calls and emails every week from other states trying to get them to relocate and Connecticut is doing everything it can to make them feel unwelcome. It’s frustrating for them.”
High taxes, high transportation costs, high electrical costs, high cost of health insurance and overregulation are some of the common problems facing the businesses Davis visited. While these issues may come as no surprise, there is seemingly little being done to improve the situation.
Davis was recently appointed to the Task Force to Study Business & Industry Barriers in the State, and he plans to take everything he is learning from these businesses back to the group.
“We need to do a better job of listening to our business leaders when we make laws. There is no recovery without them. I plan to listen as much as possible and make sure their voice is heard. I want to be their liaison- hopefully we can reverse the trend and truly make Connecticut open for business.”
Davis plans to continue his visits to local businesses. A number of business tours are currently in the works for Ellington businesses.
