• Gov. M. Jodi Rell unveiled the first two-car set of M-8 rail cars for use on the New Haven Line — one of the busiest commuter lines in the country. In 2005, Rell announced that the state would buy the new cars at a cost of almost $700 million — or more than $2 million each. Under a contract administered by the state Department of Transportation, Connecticut has ordered 300 of the new cars from Kawasaki Rail Car in Japan, scheduled for delivery over the next five years. The first ones will be added to the New Haven Line in 2010. Each car has 105 seats.
• Capital Workforce Partners’ weatherization training program has graduated its first class of 19 trainees using funds from the federal recovery and reinvestment act. Many of the graduates already have jobs waiting for them. Funding will support additional classes through March.
• Connecticut Water Co., Clinton, was recently presented with The Connecticut Construction Industries Association’s 2009 Safety Recognition Award. Honorees must show they have a solid construction safety and health program. CCIA evaluated Connecticut Water in 17 safety categories, including management involvement, employee training, safety hazard analysis, noncompliance and correction of violations. This is the sixth consecutive year that Connecticut Water has received the award.
• Pyramid Technologies in Meriden announced it has been awarded Employer of the Year for Group Supported Employment programs. The award is from the nonprofit Kuhn Employment Opportunities Inc., which integrates people with disabilities into Connecticut’s workforce. Pyramid’s products include mechanical and wireless attendance time clocks.
• Part-time instructor Rob Toller of Portland was recently honored with the University of Hartford’s “Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award.” Toller is an adjunct professor in the college’s Barney School of Business and the Department of Psychology.
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