Registration Opens For Manufacturing Training Program

HAMDEN, CT — (Contributed article): Registration is open for the next series of Skill Up for Manufacturing, a free five-week pre-apprentice training program created to expand Connecticut’s manufacturing workforce pipeline and rapidly connect residents 18 years or older who are underemployed or unemployed with manufacturing employers.

Skill Up for Manufacturing sessions:

March 1 – April 2, 2021: Middlesex Community College & Vinal Technical High School in Middletown.

April 12 – May 14, 2021: Gateway Community College & Eli Whitney Technical High School, New Haven/Hamden.

Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis and class size is capped at 15 participants. Interested candidates are encouraged to visit here as soon as possible to learn more, apply and complete a skills assessment. Applicants who do not score sufficiently on the initial Skills Inventory of shop math, spatial reasoning and basic ruler reading will be invited to a refresher and can retake the assessment.

Skill Up for Manufacturing includes hybrid classroom and hands-on training with coursework developed in close coordination with participating manufacturers. Pre-apprentice students earn up to 175 Pre-Apprenticeship hours through the CT Department of Labor, OSHA 10 and Six Sigma certifications and also receive a cash stipend and job development assistance.

Upon completion pre-apprentices will join the workforce as machine operators, machine maintenance mechanics, quality inspectors, and press assistants. Since October 2020 more than 130 students have successfully completed Skill Up for Manufacturing and have been hired by Lab Security Systems Corporation, Universal Thread Grinding, Bio-Med Devices, Medtronic, Omark Consultants, Orange Research, Drill Masters/Eldorado Tool, Microboard Processing Inc, Light Metals Coloring, Holo-Krom, Vanessa Research, Rowland Technologies, Brook & Whittle, Ametek, Wepco Plastics, Roto-Frank of America and Hobson Motzer, and more.

Skill Up for Manufacturing is managed by Workforce Alliance of South Central CT in partnership with Middlesex Community College, Gateway Community College, and Connecticut manufacturers.

Manufacturing Employers Wanted

Recruiting, screening and hiring incentives are available and manufacturers can qualify for on-the-job training reimbursement that covers 50 percent of a new hire’s wages during training. Manufacturing employers and organizations interested in providing training content and participating in the program are encouraged to contact Business Services Specialist Steve Johnson at (203) 867-4030 x 233.

About Workforce Alliance

Workforce Alliance is the policy and oversight organization responsible for creating a comprehensive, community-wide response to the challenges of building a highly skilled workforce in South Central CT, which comprises 30 towns. Board members include business owners, local elected officials and community leaders in order to meet changing local needs and shifting national economic and workforce trends. Services are primarily funded by the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act for low-income adults, dislocated workers and youth; and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families which mandates employment activities to help people become independent of cash assistance. Workforce Alliance oversees four American Job Center South Central CT locations in New Haven, Meriden, Middletown and Hamden. For more information visit workforcealliance.biz

South Central CT includes 30 towns: Bethany, Branford, Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Haddam Hamden, Killingworth, Madison, Meriden, Middlefield, Middletown, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Old Saybrook, Orange, Portland, Wallingford, West Haven, Westbrook and Woodbridge.