New Britain’s Polamer eyes major expansion

Photo | Contributed Polamer Precision.

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By Joe Cooper

After recently securing new contracts worth $80 million, New Britain aerospace manufacturer Polamer Precision Inc. announced Wednesday it plans to acquire the remaining tract of land at its home in The Pinnacle Business Park from the city for $1.1 million.

Polamer CEO and President Chris Galik said his contract-manufacturing outfit intends to purchase 27 acres at the 152,000-square-foot business park, and will add three buildings on-site in the next seven years.

Upon completion, Polamer would occupy some 600,000 square feet and more than double its workforce to 600-plus employees at the business park, at 105 Alton Brooks Way. The company also plans to add three acres of solar panels to the site.

“We decided that this is the perfect time...to purchase the 27 acres that are adjacent to our property,” said Galik, who made the expansion announcement Wednesday alongside Mayor Erin Stewart. “Local employees, local community is what we want to support. This is our next step to another seven years of expected growth.”

Polamer is expected to receive some level of public subsidy to support its expansion efforts, according to Stewart, who said a tax deferral or tax abatement could be provided for the company. Federal funds or others from the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) may also be awarded to Polamer, although no agreements have been inked, she said.

The company’s latest expansion also surfaces just days before Stewart seeks reelection for her fourth term as mayor.

“They have made an incredible commitment to our community, to employing our residents, to growing their workforce here in New Britain,” said Stewart, adding that the city put the land on the sales block this summer. “This isn’t just for the city of New Britain, this is big for the state of Connecticut.”

Wednesday’s announcement marks the latest chapter of expansion for Polamer, which moved its headquarters from Newington to New Britain five years ago at a cost of $46 million. But Polamer still has a location at 16 Progress Circle in Newington.

In 2012, Polamer closed a $500,000 deal to buy two lots in the New Britain business park for its eventual relocation and expansion. Stewart’s father, former Mayor Timothy Stewart, who is now a commercial real estate agent, also played a key role in that expansion.

Polamer in recent years also won DECD’s commitment of a $9.5 million loan and $500,000 grant to fund an expansion of its New Britain facilities, in return for its pledge to retain 100 jobs and create 200 more within three years.