Killingly, Connecticut

through the town’s food bank program during the Covid-19 pandemic. UNFI thrives as a major food distributor in New England, while Automatic Rolls produces baked goods for fast food chains like McDonald’s in the U.S. and Canada. Other businesses of note in the area include Frito-Lay, which announced in May that it’s gearing up for a $235 million expansion. Meanwhile, medical plastic manufacturer Putnam Plastic employs 465 professionals across three campuses. Web Industries, Pratt and Whitney, and TJ Beau Electrical Supply Co. are local leaders in automated manufacturing. “That’s the future wave of this country, to become more and more productive, and automation is the key to that,” LaPointe says. “They say that automation eliminates jobs, but it really creates more; it’s really one and a half are made from somebody who was eliminated by one.” Killingly’s community college students have expressed their dreams of joining these companies with their own entrepreneurial ventures. The town encourages this spirit to kickstart startups and small businesses with four beneficial initiatives. It offers a free eight- session Small Business Academy Boot Camp for students, adults, and early retirees alike. As of May, Killingly also offers startups a revolving