The state’s Office of Manufacturing has released a new strategic plan aimed at growing the sector to 20% of Connecticut’s GDP by 2030, and achieving full employment in manufacturing.
It has also announced plans for this year’s regional CT Manufacturing Innovation Forum to be held in the fall.
Both announcements were made Thursday morning at an event at the state Capitol marking Manufacturing Day.
The strategic plan rests on four pillars of developing talent, building sustainable companies, driving innovation, and fostering collaboration both within and outside the sector.
It notes the progress made so far to grow manufacturing, which it says ranks as the state’s second-largest industry sector behind finance and insurance. According to the plan, the state has more than 4,500 manufacturing companies, employing almost 159,000 workers and producing 13% of GDP.
It also notes manufacturing’s strength in driving Connecticut exports of $16 billion annually, 90% of the total.
Some of its specific focus areas for 2025 include accelerating adoption of innovations and new supply chain programs; creating a cohesive hub of solutions providers; and driving engagement to make more companies aware of the resources available to them.
“Our support of our manufacturing community is the best in the nation and our manufacturing sector continues to grow our economy and improve the quality of life for all residents,“ said Paul Lavoie, the state’s chief manufacturing officer.
Each of the pillars pulls together existing and new efforts in the state. The workforce pillar includes paid media campaigns to stimulate interest in manufacturing careers among high schoolers; the FIRST robotics competition; efforts to reach out to underrepresented groups including women, veterans and neurodiverse individuals; and upskilling programs including apprenticeships and incumbent worker training.
The effort to support sustainable companies encompasses programs that will provide an assessment of cybersecurity gaps for businesses, a supply chain database being built by CONNEX, community resiliency and smart energy grant programs, and supplier events to connect corporate clients with Connecticut manufacturers.
Innovation activities include grants and training programs to help companies integrate digital technologies like model-based definition and additive manufacturing. The Office of Manufacturing has also been awarded a federal planning grant with a focus on model-based enterprise in clean energy, commercial aerospace and medical devices.
The final pillar, improving collaboration, includes the creation of a Manufacturing Cabinet to bring stakeholders together, and the adoption of a customer relationship management platform to improve communication.
The Innovation Forum will be held on Sept. 11, 2025 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Sessions will address talent development, succession planning, tax credit optimization, financial growth, supply chain development, and technology adoption.
The forum will also include an induction ceremony for the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame.
“The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum is New England’s premier conference on what’s next in manufacturing and innovation,” said Gov. Ned Lamont. ”The Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Forum is truly about ‘manufacturing smart.’”
