(Wethersfield, CT) – Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo today reported that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded CTDOL $8 million in Industry-Driven Skills Training Funds to support skill-building programs in the state’s high-demand industry areas. Through existing partnerships between Workforce Development Boards, employers, and educators, CTDOL’s Industry-Driven Skills Training Initiative funds the design and implementation of worker training programs to meet specific industry needs.
Commissioner Bartolomeo said, “In manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and many other fields, new technologies allow employers to improve their products and expand their reach; AI alone has been a game-changer. These funds help Connecticut’s workforce stay highly trained and globally competitive. Given Connecticut’s expertise in defense, aerospace, and submarines, we thank U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and her team for their support; it benefits both Connecticut and the nation.”
Labor market data and employer information will inform the design and build of training programs that get new workers ready for high-demand fields and help existing workers learn the latest technology to keep their skills current. The multi-year grant will provide funding for on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs, and AI integration across multiple high-demand industry areas including:
• Shipbuilding
• Advanced manufacturing, including AI-enabled automation and supply chain manufacturing
• Information technology, including AI and cybersecurity
• Construction and skilled trades
• Healthcare and social assistance
• Transportation, distribution, and logistics
• Other skilled trades with AI integration
CTDOL will disburse $1.5M in funding to each of the five Connecticut Workforce Development Boards to provide employer reimbursement that supports these worker training programs. The Workplace, Inc; Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board; Workforce Alliance; Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board; and Capital Workforce Partners will oversee employer engagement, training recruitment, outcomes, and data reporting.
“President Trump has directed the Labor Department to Make America Skilled Again by providing states with the resources they need to expand on-the-job training opportunities,” said Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “By investing more than $86 million in workforce development initiatives across the country, we are carrying out our responsibility to prepare American workers to fill the mortgage-paying jobs being created by this Administration’s efforts to revitalize American manufacturing, shipbuilding, energy production, and other critical industries. This is how we keep America working and winning.”
The federal government shutdown has delayed the disbursement of funds. At this time, there is no estimate as to when the funds will be available.
-End-