3/19/2026
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy (OWS) will spearhead the state’s implementation of the new federal Workforce Pell Grants. This initiative marks a significant expansion of financial aid, allowing low-income students to access grants for short-term, career-focused training programs.
The announcement highlights a pivotal step in making high-demand career pathways more accessible to working adults and other non-traditional learners, while simultaneously addressing the state’s need for skilled talent.
“Enabling students to take full advantage of this funding will require significant coordination among public agencies, higher education institutions, K-12, training programs, and employers,” Governor Lamont said. “The Office of Workforce Strategy, under the leadership of Chief Workforce Officer Kelli-Marie Vallieres, will ensure smooth and effective implementation of this highly complex student funding source.”
by Colleen Connolly, March 4, 2026
"The Big Idea: When Vallieres became chief workforce officer in 2020, she took the idea behind the manufacturing initiative and expanded it to other industries across the state. The resulting program, Career ConneCT, promises job seekers that they can earn the skills they need in four to 24 weeks with the help of a career coach. They also exit the program with an industry-recognized credential, many of which can stack toward a degree. With $70M in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to back the program, it’s the largest investment the state has ever made in short-term credentials."
"Amid federal funding uncertainty, CT launches updated strategic workforce development plan; calls for AI tech talent accelerator, new training loan program."
May 19, 2025
This week the CT Office of Workforce Strategy begins highlighting the great work being done by the State of Connecticut #GoodJobsChallenge grantees.
