Page 32 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 53 Early Spring 2025

EDC in Action

Economic Development Commission-
Building Wallingford’s Future on the
World Stage.

The upcoming month of May is World
Trade Month. Federally recognized
since 1938, state and federal agencies,
area chambers of commerce, trade
associations, economic development
commissions, and other public and
private organizations celebrate how
international trade unlocks new
business opportunities, creates jobs,
and strengthens the U.S. economy.

So, the topic of this issue is
Wallingford’s place in international
commerce. Increased exports and
declining imports are good news
for the US manufacturing base. The
town of Wallingford stands ready to
support our local companies’ efforts
to succeed globally. When Mayor
Cervoni emphasizes what he calls
Wallingford Worldwide; he states that
Wallingford “sits on the crossroads of
the world economy. There is a long
list of prominent companies who
call Wallingford home, all providing
their products and services around
the globe.” In fact, to underscore
what he means, we have learned that
Wallingford ranks among the top value
of exports per capita in the State of
Connecticut.

There is also the growing trend among
US companies to “reshore” goods and
materials here at home. In today’s
business climate there is an increased
risk when importing goods and
materials from foreign shores. Such
risks are related to global inflation,
high ocean transportation costs,
tariffs, political instability, and other

32 Wallingford Magazine - Early Spring 2025