State lawmakers have changed a typo on a several-months-old bill that will free up more than $2 million in matching grants for Nutmeg State manufacturers.
The funds were originally set aside solely for aerospace manufacturers, which could use the money to invest in upgrades to equipment and facilities known as “lean manufacturing.”
Now, however, any manufacturing business in the state can receive the funds, which are given as a one-to-one matching grant.
The original bill passed earlier this spring as part of the state’s budget. It included a provision that would open the funding to all manufacturers in October 2008. The date is now October 1, 2007 — meaning funds could be available as early as today.
Minor Change
It is not uncommon for bills to make it through the legislative process with typos that must later be changed, said State Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford). The original funding bill started in the Senate’s commerce committee, chaired by LeBeau, and originally included the October 2007 date, he said.
“We wanted to broaden the availability of this money to give every manufacturer a chance to invest in lean manufacturing, which will make them more competitive and ultimately keep jobs in Connecticut,” LeBeau said.
