The state Department of Labor has been awarded an $8 million federal grant to expand worker training in some of the state’s fastest-growing industries, officials announced Tuesday.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund grant will support programs that equip workers with in-demand skills in fields such as shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing, health care, information technology and construction. The initiative builds on partnerships among the state’s workforce development boards, employers and educators to design training programs tailored to industry needs.
“In manufacturing, health care, IT and many other fields, new technologies allow employers to improve their products and expand their reach; AI alone has been a game-changer,” said state Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo. “These funds help Connecticut’s workforce stay highly trained and globally competitive.”
The multiyear grant will fund a range of training opportunities, including on-the-job and incumbent worker training, pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs, and artificial intelligence integration across industries. Priority areas include shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, healthcare, and logistics.
Each of Connecticut’s five workforce development boards — The Workplace, Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, Workforce Alliance, Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board and Capital Workforce Partners — will receive $1.5 million to reimburse employers for training expenses and manage program outcomes.
A federal government shutdown has delayed disbursement of the money, officials said, adding that no timeline has been set for when the money will become available.