Politics & Government

Gledhill Nursery Receives State Small Business Grant

The West Hartford garden center is one of five small businesses that qualified for assistance under Connecticut's Small Business Express Program.

has qualified for assistance under a special program created by Connecticut's new Jobs Bill.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Wednesday that Gledhill, as well as four other small businesses in Connecticut, will receive assistance through the Small Business Express Program (EXP).

“Small businesses need access to capital to reach new customers,” Governor Malloy said in a news release. “The Small Business Express Program is giving these already-successful businesses a path to obtain the funding they need to retain and grow jobs.”

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Gledhill Nursery will receive a loan of $100,000 through the program, which will supply the business with working capital. According to the governor's announcement, this loan will help the company, which includes a garden center, gift shop, and landscape design and installation company retain eight jobs.

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“Gledhill Nursery has been a West Hartford tradition for 90 years, always growing and expanding but still maintaining its reputation for excellent customer service,” State Senator Beth Bye (D-West Hartford) said in the release. “If there was ever a place to plant a state loan in the hopes of seeing future growth, Gledhill is the place.”

State Representative Brian Becker (D-Avon, Farmington, West Hartford), whose district includes Gledhill, said in the release, “Small businesses like Gledhill Nursery form the foundation of our local economy. The state’s ability to provide grants and low-interest loans to this business enables them to maintain and create jobs – a win for everyone.”

According to the release, EXP will provide a total of $100 million to help the state’s small businesses hire more employees and fund capital investments.  The program, administered by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), offers loans and matching grants to Connecticut companies with fewer than 50 employees at the time of application.

Other businesses which qualified for assistance under the program include MacNaughton Builders, LLC of East Granby; Capitol Printing Co., Inc. (DBA Minuteman Press) of Hartford; K-Town Automotive, LLC, a Killingly automotive sales and repair company; and C&C Janitorial Supplies, Inc. of Newington.

For more information on EXP or to apply for the program, visit the Small Business Express Program web page or contact Michelle Lugo at DECD at 860-270-8052 or Michelle.Lugo@ct.gov.

     


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