Westville Biz Tour Centers ​“CTSavings”

Angela Naranjo now puts aside 3 percent of her Westville massage-therapy paycheck towards her retirement — thanks to a new state program that encourages workers across Connecticut who do not have employer-backed retirement plans to start saving early, even if they have decades to go before leaving the workforce for good.

Naranjo, a 34-year-old Westville native, shared her story about getting ready for retirement — many years down the line — during a neighborhood walking tour promoting that program as hosted by newly elected state Comptroller Sean Scanlon.

Scanlon stopped by Naranjo’s place of employment, The Well for Women at 495 Blake St., on Tuesday to kick off a roadshow promoting a new retirement savings program called MyCTSavings, which is overseen by Scanlon in his role as the state’s top financial officer. 

The retirement program is a savings plans that creates a Roth IRA for employees to contribute to. It does not provide employer or state matching. Instead, it’s designed to make it easy for workers to put money aside now if their employers do not already offer an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.

An employer is required to participate if it employed five or more employees in Connecticut as of last Oct. 1; if it paid at least five employees $5,000 or more in taxable wages in the previous calendar year; and if it does not currently provide a ​“qualified, employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.”

Click here and here to read more about how the program works and about which employers are exempt.

According to the Scanlon, 80 percent of state employers aren’t able to offer retirement savings options for their workers. He described the MyCTSavings program as making saving for retirement ​“easy” and ​“flexible” for employees like Naranjo and licensed massage therapist Nája Thompson, who already participate in the program. 

During his Tuesday visit to Westville, Scanlon stopped at a half-dozen small businesses, including The Well, Alisa’s House of Salsa, Pistachio Cafe, Lotta Studio, Vintanthro Modern & Vintage / Vignettes, and Camacho Garage.

Scanlon’s first stop of the day was at The Well, which participated in the MyCTSavings program pilot, to check in with owner and founder Julie Robbins about how her business has been using the program for her 10 employees. 

Robbins described The Well as an ​“affinity space for women,” including clients and her staff. 

“Now someone doesn’t have to go somewhere else to provide for their future,” she said about the MyCTSavings program. 

Robbins described her business as ​“thriving” thanks to the help she’s gotten from several state grants throughout the Covid pandemic.

She gave Scanlon a tour of The Well, which specializes in prenatal massages and care, and talked about the business’s availability on weekends for not just women clients. 

Scanlon was joined by a group that included State Reps. Pat Dillion and Robyn Porter, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance Executive Director Lizzy Donius, and city Deputy Director Economic Development Cathy Graves. 

Donius led the Tuesday tour for the group and described state leaders like Scanlon and the delegation as an ​“engine for small businesses.” 

Naranjo started working at The Well after previously doing managerial work and realizing ​“I was neglecting my own self care.” She said she is proud to be serving her neighborhood and normalizing self care for all. 

She described the savings that she’s been growing since the program’s pilot nearly a year ago as a ​“nice cushion.”

During the tour, Robbins showed the group The Well’s three massage rooms and back storage and office space that will be converted into two more massage rooms this year. 

In one room, Robbins showed a massage table set up for a ​“sideline positioned” massage, which allows a pregnant person to lay on her side and elevate her stomach on cushioning. 

Scanlon shared with Robbins that his wife intends to book an appointment with The Well in the near future while five months postpartum and dealing with severe back pain she didn’t deal with during her first pregnancy. ​“I’m going to tell my wife it’s not too late,” he said. 

“Send her my way,” Robbins responded.

Robbins emphasized the importance of The Well as an educational resource for all to learn to prioritize self-care, particularly for those who experience pregnancy. The Well offers services for those during all trimesters of pregnancy and postpartum as a mother must continue to care for her body while breastfeeding and holding a child. Robbins shared that she will soon receive training for Hypnobirthing to later introduce as a service at The Well.

“Women tend to put themselves last,” Robbins said. 

After the tour of the Well, Scanlon, Robbins, and the group talked in the fireplace lounge about the ease of joining the state savings program and how it helped the business move from bouncing back and surviving to now thriving, Robbins said. 

“I spent hours and days applying for grants,” she said. 

During the conversation Scanlon emphasized that the program, which is free for employers, will help businesses to give back and retain their employees. 

The program is in its third phase, which will require participating businesses with 5 to 25 employees to apply and comply with the program by March 30. 

During a brief stop at Alisa’s House of Salsa, Scanlon shared with business owner Alisa Bowens-Mercado the story of his single mother who raised him while also working as a small business owner. 

“My mom used all her money to keep the lights on and couldn’t” set aside money for retirement, Scanlon said. 

Bowens-Mercado only has three employees and therefore doesn’t qualify for the MyCTSsavings program, but was able to share with Scanlon the need for helping businesses like hers. 

“If there was a lesser option would you benefit from that?” Scanlon asked.

“Yes, I want them to roll into something comfortable here,” Bowens-Mercado said.

Next Scanlon made a stop at Pistachio Cafe to pick up pistachio and walnut baklava and an English breakfast tea. While there Scanlon pitched the program to manager Taylor Curry. ​“It sounds great. I’ll pass along the info,” Curry said. 

Curry offered a pitch of her own to Scanlon which was for him to visit Pistachio again for its brunch menu. 

While walking down Whalley, Scanlon crossed paths with Pistachio’s owner, Mohamad Hafez, who shared his excitement about the retirement program. 

Hafez said he’s lost ​“so many good people” due to his struggle with finding affordable benefits to offer his employees. He said one benefit plan he considered has a $1,000 monthly premium for the employer and the employee. 

“Hopefully this will squeeze the arm of insurance companies,” Scanlon said. 

During a stop at Vintanthro Modern & Vintage, Scanlon picked up a handcut carving of Connecticut made by local artist Bethany Myer and an art print created by Goobertooth Prints. 

The group’s final stop was at Camacho Garage for a final program pitch and early lunch.