Unique Businesses, Housing, Financial Services, and Manufacturing Highlight

The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce hosted the town’s Economic Development Update on Wednesday at a sold-out luncheon at the Pond House Café.

West Hartford Economic Development Update. Jan. 15, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

In 2024, there were 6,707 active registered businesses in the Town of West Hartford, 898 new West Hartford businesses registered with the Connecticut Secretary of the State in 2024, and 147 new trade name certificates issued by the Town Clerk’s Office. The number of new residential units, when combining those completed in 2024 with construction underway and development applications under review, is close to 2,000.

Those are extremely impressive numbers, and speaking to a sold-out audience at the Pond House Café at the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Development Update luncheon on Wednesday, Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski, and Economic Development Specialist Lauren Siegal – who combined made more than 350 visits to businesses in town last year and celebrated more than 100 milestones including openings, relocations, and expansions of brick and mortar businesses – provided a snapshot of the town’s successes.

West Hartford Economic Development Update. Jan. 15, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

In order to fit the 2024 update into the framework of a luncheon Gorski and Siegal focused their comprehensive review of what was once again an unprecedented level of investment in West Hartford to highlight the industries that are showing the greatest growth, investment in housing development, unique businesses that have opened their doors, and several major transformations.

Industries with the Most Growth

Financial services and manufacturing firms are thriving in West Hartford, and Gorski and Siegal highlighted several successes stories.

During COVID, the office market, including financial services, faced extreme challenges, Siegal said. “Whereas most of the region is double-digit vacancy, West Hartford is over 94% occupancy.”

In the office market, commercial insurance company Beazley moved to West Hartford from Farmington, taking over 19,000 square feet of space on the third floor of 65 Memorial Drive in Blue Back Square. “They came a long way since 1986, from a small office in England with a borrowed computer and an old hat stand,” she said. And with the support of the town, Beazley’s move to West Hartford also included the relocation of their beehives, now at Westmoor Park.

Also in the financial service industry, and also relocating from Farmington, Lockton moved more than 100 employees into 22,000 square feet that was formerly the New York Sports Club in Blue Back Square. Lockton is the largest privately-held, family-owned independent insurance brokerage in the world, Siegal said.

West Hartford Economic Development Update. Jan. 15, 2025….