HARTFORD—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced on Monday that Ardent Displays and Fixtures of East Hartford is this week’s “Murphy’s Monday Manufacturer.” Ordinarily, the East Hartford company, founded in 1987, is a designer, manufacturer and global distributor of point-of-purchase displays, retail fixtures, signage and decor to a variety of major retailers and consumer goods companies. But, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ardent has switched its production to create much-needed personal protection equipment (PPE), like face shields, for at-risk health care workers and first responders. Ardent Display and Fixtures owner Donald Budnick answered State Senator Saud Anwar’s call challenging entrepreneurs in Connecticut to respond to critical PPE shortages. Within hours, the company’s designers and engineers converted ideas into design, and production on the critical face shields began the next day.

“In order for us to defeat this virus, we’ll need an all hands on deck approach, and Ardent Displays is rising to the occasion. Ardent’s innovation and generous donations of critical PPE for our frontline health workers and first responders will put Connecticut and surrounding states in a better place to help those in need. I’m proud to highlight Ardent Displays for their forward-thinking and community-based approach to defeating the coronavirus. My office is here to help in any way we can,” said Murphy.  

“We are honored to be recognized by Senator Murphy and applaud his ongoing efforts to support and promote Connecticut manufacturers and jobs, particularly at this challenging time,” said Donald Budnick, founder of Ardent Display and Fixtures.

“I cannot thank both Don and Dottie Budnick for their commitment to helping all people and all frontline workers, including health care workers, our police departments and our fire departments, to make sure they’re protected and can do their best work. I’m blessed to call them my friends and I’m blessed that they are part of my community, making a difference every single day,” said State Senator Saud Anwar.

Since March, Ardent has donated over 15,000 face shields to numerous area hospitals and local first responder organizations, including: Manchester Memorial Hospital/Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Waterbury Hospital, Bristol Health, Danbury Hospital, Norwalk Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Stamford Hospital, Middlesex Hospital, and more. Today, the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security picked up 10,000 face shields donated by a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by the company. Ardent’s 39 full-time employees work out of 230,000 square-foot and 100% solar powered facility in East Hartford.

The manufacturing industry plays a crucial role throughout Connecticut communities, creating new jobs and accelerating the state’s economic recovery. Today, Connecticut’s thousands of manufacturers account for 10% of the state’s jobs and 87% of the state’s total exports. In order to protect and grow manufacturing jobs in Connecticut, Murphy has introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to strengthen existing standards and prioritize the purchase of American-made goods, the BuyAmerican.gov Act and the American Jobs Matter Act.

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