The state is helping an East Hampton bell company that was destroyed by fire last month.
Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company will receive $100,000 in matching grants from the state’s Small Business Express program.
The state will also provide $100,000 in matching grants for P.S.I. Plus Inc., which was also ravaged by the fire on May 26.
“Connecticut has a proud history as the home of the Bevin Bell factory, and we are putting our economic development tools to work to assist Bevin Brothers and P.S.I. Plus in their effort to rebuild here in Connecticut,” Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement. “We are fortunate that these two companies will persevere despite this terrible fire—there is a lot of work ahead, but the state is stepping up so their employees can get back on the job as soon as possible.”
Bevin Bros. Manufacturing is the last U.S. bell manufacturer and has been making bells in East Hampton since 1832. The company will use the grant to buy machinery and equipment so that its 12 full-time and three part-time employees can begin producing bells as soon as possible in a temporary facility located at 11 Watrous Street, East Hampton.
P.S.I. Plus is a manufacturer of high pressure specialty gas cylinders since 1991 and was a tenant in the factory complex and was also destroyed in the fire. P.S.I. Plus plans to purchase new equipment and fund renovations at the same facility. P.S.I. has seven full-time and two part-time employees.
