WellSpark Health, a wellbeing, disease prevention and management company, announced recently it will expand its Farmington, Conn., site, adding nearly 300 employees over the next seven years. Under an agreement with the State of Connecticut, Wellspark is eligible for up to about $1.5 million in state grants if 287 jobs are created by the end of 2026 and retained for two years. Wellspark currently employs more than 70 people at its Farmington headquarters.
Established in 2013, WellSpark Health, once known as Care Management Solutions Inc., is focused on economically diverse, multicultural employees who struggle with their health, reports the Hartford Courant.
“WellSpark is a homegrown company that has shown innovation and rapid growth over the last several years,” said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. “Today we celebrate another key to our economic recovery — companies making the strategic decision to invest and grow here. I thank the WellSpark team for their commitment to our state and their recognition that we have the climate and the resources to support long-term business growth.”
Lamont said the expansion was more evidence of Connecticut’s competitiveness. He noted that the state has had an increase of 16,500 new households moving into the state over the last year, and a 9 percent increase in new business registrations, the Courant reports.
“We are a Connecticut-born company and the State of Connecticut was our first customer,” said Roberta (Bert) Wachtelhausen, president of WellSpark Health. “We’re now a rapidly growing national company and we chose to stay in Connecticut for many reasons, including the top-notch talent pool of experienced professionals and new college graduates. As a Connecticut native and UConn graduate myself, I know the state is a great place to live and work.”
The state Department of Economic and Community Development is providing “earn-as-you-grow” incentives that provide grants in arrears over seven years as WellSpark Health reaches job targets. The state money may be used for capital improvements, computer and production equipment and other business-related expenses.