Connecticut is earmarking $7 million over two years to imbue its aging manufacturing workforce with next-generation skills to compete in a global economy, authorities said.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday unveiled the Incumbent Worker Training Program through the Manufacturing Innovation Fund. The state Department of Economic and Community Development will fund it as part of the $30 million innovation fund targeted at boosting Connecticut’s diverse manufacturing base.
A matching fund program, the incumbent worker training program requires companies to contribute at least $1 for every dollar of program funding offered, authorities said. Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 per calendar year.
The program will enable Connecticut manufacturers to send existing employees to a third party vendor, such as a community college, industry or trade group, or another training provider in order to enhance or upgrade their skills.
“This targeted training program will support the efforts of advanced manufacturing companies in training their existing workforce in the next generation of skills needed to meet emerging market demands,” Malloy said. “With a state-of-the-art workforce, Connecticut businesses will continue to bring technological innovation to the market, increasing productivity and growing market share, sales revenue, and profitability.”
The state Department of Labor will serve as DECD’s fiduciary agent for the program and also will perform program eligibility evaluations of applicants; oversee the distribution and expenditure of funds; monitor and verify the status of approved projects; and report on impact results.
