Burris Logistics to Create 220 Connecticut Jobs

Posted on September 4, 2008

Burris Logistics, Inc. is opening a new refrigerated and frozen food distribution center in Rocky Hill. The $65 million project is expected to create 220 Connecticut jobs and bring in more than $26 million in revenue for the state.

The State of Connecticut recently announced it would provide financial assistance to the company, according to a press release from the state. The Delaware-based company, with a network of frozen food warehousing and distribution systems on the East Coast, will open a 263,000 square-foot facility, complete with state-of-the-art material handling equipment. The Connecticut facility will mainly serve BJ’s Wholesale Club, as well as other businesses in the Northeast.

The Department of Economic and Community Development will offer $2 million in Urban and Industrial Sites Reinvestment Tax Credits and more than $1 million in Job Creation Tax Credits.

Burris will invest more than $50.6 million overall, including land, building and machinery and other equipment. The company will spend another $14.4 million for refrigerated trailers and inventory.

“While the nation’s economy is slumping, Connecticut is demonstrating a resiliency not seen in many other parts of the country,” Governor M. Jodi Rell said in the press release. “In the last year we’ve added almost 6,000 jobs, with two consecutive months of growth and 3,600 new jobs in June alone.

“My focus has been and continues to be jobs-jobs in every industry at every level,” Rell continued. “This project means more high quality jobs for the hard working people in the service industry. It also means another leading company in its field has made a commitment to invest and grow in Connecticut.”

As of July 2008, Connecticut had a total non-farm employment of 1,704,900, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, a .3 percent increase from last year.