| Economic Opportunities
Skilled Workforce
Well-educated, highly skilled and hard working, our labor force is productive. An outstanding public school system, coupled with the nearby resources of the University of Connecticut, Connecticut College, and Three Rivers Community/Technical College have been crucial to the continued excellence of our work.
Strategic Location
Located between New York City and Boston and adjacent to two of the country's largest casinos, Norwich is optimally positioned for business. The City is accessible by major interstate highways, railroads, ports and airports. The Thames River offers ready access to coastal shipping facilities located only twelve miles away in New London, and the City is well-served by both the Central Vermont and Providence & Worcester railroads. Air transportation is available at nearby Groton/New London Airport, and both Bradley (Hartford) International and T.F. Greene (Providence) airports are within a one hour drive of the City. SEAT, our regional bus company, limousine services and a modern marina complete a transportation system that links your business to customers.
Peoples Bank, Downtown Norwich | Business and Industry Locations
Norwich offers many diverse and highly desirable business locations. Our 300-acre industrial park, situated in a pleasant, rural setting, is home to over 30 companies ranging from publishers and printers to manufacturers of computer components. Fully serviced by our city utility company at rents below the county average, the Norwich Industrial Park is a regional asset. Excellent manufacturing, warehouse and office facilities are located throughout the City and its Enterprise Zone at lease rates and purchase prices at or below the county average. Reflecting Norwich's industrial heritage, our 12 historic mill properties offer exciting opportunities for manufacturing, retail or residential development.
| Norwich Business Profile (1999 Census Data) |
| Sector |
Firms |
% of Total |
|
|
| Accommodations & Food Service |
73 |
11.0% |
|
|
| Const. & Mining |
66 |
9.9% |
|
|
| Manufacturing |
35 |
5.3% |
|
|
| Transportation & Utilities |
15 |
2.3% |
|
|
| Retail Trade |
146 |
21.9% |
|
|
| Finance, Ins. & Real Estate |
87 |
13.1% |
|
|
| Services |
243 |
36.5% |
|
|
| Total |
665 |
100% |
|
|
|
| Business Profile (1997) |
| Sector |
Firms |
% of Total |
Emp. |
% of Total |
| Agriculture |
26 |
1.7% |
124 |
.7% |
| Const. & Mining |
245 |
15.6% |
1,085 |
6.2% |
| Manufacturing |
71 |
4.5% |
1,620 |
9.3% |
| Trans. & Utilities |
41 |
2.6% |
758 |
4.4% |
| Trade |
390 |
24.9% |
3,448 |
19.8% |
| Finance, Ins. & Real Estate |
118 |
7.5% |
922 |
5.3% |
| Services |
640 |
40.8% |
6,756 |
38.9% |
| Government |
37 |
2.4% |
2,671 |
15.4% |
| Total |
1,568 |
100% |
17,384 |
100% |
| Top Five Grand List (1997) |
Amount |
% of Total |
| Phelps Dodge Industries, Inc. |
$12,502,690 |
0.89% |
| The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe |
$ 9141,640 |
0.65% |
| Norwichtown Mall Realty Assoc. |
$ 8,564,730 |
0.61% |
| CSC Dynamics Corp. |
$ 8,327,830 |
0.39% |
| The Genlylte Group Inc. |
$ 5,499,430 |
0.39% |
| Largest Employers (2001) |
| Name |
# of Employees |
Nature of Business |
| William W. Backus Hospital |
1537 |
Medical Center |
| Board of Education |
548 |
Public Education |
| City of Norwich and Norwich Public Utilities |
476 |
Municipal Government |
| Computer Science Corporation |
476 |
Computer Products manufacturing and services |
| US Food Service |
250 |
Food and merchandise distribution |
| The American Group |
200 |
Services |
| Phelps Dodge |
177 |
Copper rod manufacturer |
| Three Rivers CTC |
166 |
State Community-Technical college |
| Ortronics |
160 |
Communication Technology |
| Gunther International |
150 |
Light Machinery Assembly |
| Kendland Company, Inc. |
150 |
Plumbing supply and installation |
| Longwood Engineering Products |
115 |
Formerly Eagle-Picher Molding |
| Plas-Pak Industries |
115 |
Medical supplies |
| Vision One |
105 |
Printing |
| Decorative Screen Printing |
90 |
Fine Fabric Screen Printing |
| Thames Printing |
81 |
Printing |
| New London County Mutual Insurance Co. |
97 |
Insurance |
| Consumers Interstate |
79 |
Paper product distribution |
| |
|
|
| Labor Force (1997) |
Town |
County |
State |
| Labor Force |
19,283 |
133,951 |
1,723,300 |
| Employed |
17,953 |
126,435 |
1,635,400 |
| Unemployed |
1,330 |
7,516 |
87,900 |
| Unemployment Rate |
6.9% |
5.6% |
5.1% |
| Total Employment |
16,860 |
126,990 |
1,581,700 |
| Manufacturing |
1,570 |
20,790 |
265,850 |
| '92-'97 Growth Rate |
9% |
16.7% |
4.3% |
| Daytime Population |
19,291 |
119,632 |
1,740,247 |
|