One company provides hi-tech protective coatings for the United States military’s fighting machines. The other company provides high-end protective fashion for competitive horseback riding. But the two Cheshire-based enterprises — Element 119 and Cheshire Equestrian Center — have now both gained national recognition as small businesses that stand out among their peers.
To formally acknowledge the accomplishments, United States Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) visited Cheshire on Monday, May 8, and voiced his admiration for the “ingenuity and risk-taking” that helps Connecticut’s and the nation’s economy thrive.
Blumenthal is still recovering from the after-effects of a broken femur sustained during the University of Connecticut men’s basketball title parade a few weeks ago, though he joked that he “finished the parade.” Although less mobile than usual, Blumenthal paid visits to both businesses to present commendations on their success.
He was accompanied by officials from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as the United States Commercial Service, which as part of the Commerce Department, provides assistance to companies like Element 119 who seek to export to foreign markets. The agency recently helped facilitate the sale of an Element 119 product to a customer in the Czech Republic.