Fasano, Fontana Seek State Assistance for Marlin Employees

Hartford, CT – State Senator Leonard Fasano (R-34), State Representative Steve Fontana (D-87) and North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda are working with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to provide aid and employment services to 265 workers who will lose their jobs when The Marlin Firearms Company closes its North Haven-based manufacturing facility.

“Losing a job is always hard, but it’s especially difficult in this economy,” said Senator Fasano. “Our unemployment numbers that are constantly on the rise highlight the need for legislators to be proactive in stimulating our economy. In addition to pushing pro-business legislation that aims to prevent similar closures like this, Rep. Fontana and I have reached out to Commissioner Joan McDonald of DECD and Commissioner Linda Agnew of DOL and we will be doing everything we can over the next few weeks to help provide these workers and their families the assistance they need.”

“The people who work at Marlin Firearms are part of the community and our first thoughts go towards helping them. Beyond that we want to make sure we focus on job creation in Connecticut,” said Representative Fontana. “I look forward to working with Senator Fasano in finding ways to assist Marlin employees and their families.”

The legislators, who have spoken with Marlin officials and individuals at DOL and DECD, plan to attend an on site meeting and offer a job fair for employees. Fasano and Fontana have also requested that DOL immediately dispatch its Rapid Response Team to North Haven to educate the workers about job search assistance, unemployment benefits and training opportunities.

The Marlin Firearm Company, which manufactures rifles and shotgun, has been a longtime fixture of North Haven and has been operating as a branch of the Remington Arms Company since 2007.

-End-