CLUSTER NEWS The 2011 CEDS identified six economic "clusters" driving the economy of Southeastern CT. Following are recent news items on activities within those clusters.
AGRICULTURE: A bill is moving forward in the State Legislature to preserve the Savin Farm in Lebanon-Colchester as open/agricultural space. Currently part of this historic farm is leased to M&K Dairy, a small farm whose owners make terrific cheeses! They are right down the road from
Beltane Farm (Goat Cheese) and
Graywall Farm, headquarters of the
Farmer's Cow and seCTer client
Mystic Cheese. Lots of good things happening on the Agricultural front in SECT. For more information visit our
web site page on Agriculture.
DEFENSE: Defense and associated Advanced Manufacturing constitute the largest cluster employment-wise in the region. Since Electric Boat purchased the former Pfizer Global Research and Development Building in New London, they have placed over 3000 engineers in the building, who are designing the next generation of Submarines.
Upgrades are also planned for the EB Facilities in Groton to accommodate increased work. Also in the news, the Subase in Groton welcomed aboard a new commander,Capt. Carl A. Lahti, who has plans for
more upgrades at the base. In April a long planned improvement was unveiled with the opening of the
new commissaryto better serve the 1000's of active duty and retired Navy personnel who call Southeastern CT home.
TOURISM: Tourism is a mainstay of the economy in the region. Recent news includes the re-branding of Foxwoods former MGM Tower to the "Fox Tower," the purchase of both the
Mystic Hilton and the historic
Inn at Mystic by new investors with plans for upgrades at both these great hotel properties in
Mystic County. The 2014 Mystic Country Travel Guide is also now available. To receive a copy contact them at 860.536.8822.
MARITIME: Plans for the new Coast Guard Museum to be built on the waterfront in New London are proceeding on. Fund-raising is well underway. Official Ground breaking and deed transfer of land from the City of New London will take place on board the Barque "Eagle" on May 2 on City Pier. In other Maritime News,
the "Charles W. Morgan" will set sail from Mystic Seaport on May 17, the first voyage of the historic 1841 New Bedford built whaler since 1941, when she first arrived at Mystic Seaport. And, the State of CT is moving forward with plans to create a S
tatewide Port Authority-great news for New London's Deep Water Port.
CREATIVE: The Southeastern Cultural Coalition is formed, staffed and has created a new web site.
Stonington's Wendy Bury has been hired as Executive Director and is working diligently on plans for the arts in SECT. The Hygienic Artists Academy is also underway, hosting its
second session of entrepreneurial lessons for artists.BIO-SCIENCE:
A bill is working its way through the State Legislature, formalizing a support for the Bio-Science Cluster in SECT. Exciting news was announced recently with the transfer of former
Pfizer building 286 to CURE to create an Innovative Commons for Bio-Science and other entrepreneurs in Groton. All good news for our regional scientific community.
ted at Mariner Square at 125 Eugene O'Neill Drive in New London. Our office Suite is #309. All phone numbers and emails remain the same. 
The Economic Development Committee is working on updating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) as a requirement of the Federal Economic Development Agency (EDA). Part of the update involves reviewing the status of goals and projects in the CEDS, and we can report that a number of these goals have already been met, and many projects are underway, completed, or in some cases have been eliminated. 