Groton — State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, received the endorsement Thursday of the National Federation of Independent Business Connecticut PAC.

"The NFIB CT PAC believes that you will be committed to the needs of thousands of Main Street small businesses and their employees in Connecticut when you are re-elected to serve in Hartford," Elizabeth Parks, NFIB CT senior grassroots manager, and Wendy Traub, the organization’s chairwoman, wrote in a letter informing Somers of the endorsement. “Thank you for standing with NFIB on the issues important to small business."

Somers was a founding partner of Hydrofera, a medical device manufacturer that employs nearly 100 people in Windham County. She was vice president of international sales and marketing for Hollister Inc., which acquired Hydrofera in 2010.

"I started a small business in the basement of an abandoned church with two partners that grew into a successful biotech manufacturing company that continues to thrive in eastern Connecticut and has contributed over $30 million to the state since it was founded in 1997," Somers said upon receiving the political action committee's endorsement. “I understand intricately the challenges facing small businesses in our communities because I have lived many of those challenges."

Democrat Bob Statchen of Stonington is challenging Somers in the 18th Senate District, which comprises Griswold, Groton, North Stonington, Plainfield, Preston, Sterling, Stonington and Voluntown.