MakerspaceCT Celebrates Completion of "Building on the Trades" Program

MakerspaceCT proudly announces the successful completion of its inaugural “Building on the Trades” program, a tuition-free initiative designed to equip young adults aged 18-29 with essential trade skills while fostering community impact.

This transformative program, funded by Stanley Black & Decker and DEWALT through their Grow the Trades Grant, culminated in a heartfelt community service project benefiting Hartford’s South Park Inn.

Over the nine-week program, participants engaged in hands-on learning in areas such as safety protocols, and essential trade skills in metalworking, machining, and woodworking. Graduates received their OSHA 10 Certification, as well as a credential for completing the course. Each participant was also awarded a free, 6-month membership to MakerspaceCT.

The program concluded with students applying their newly acquired skills to construct and deliver over 20 custom footlockers for use in South Park Inn’s Respite Program. These lockers, delivered just before the holidays, provide secure storage for personal belongings for South Park Inn’s clients, supporting the shelter’s mission to aid individuals recovering from medical or behavioral health challenges.

"Building on the Trades exemplifies the powerful synergy of skill-building and community service,” explained Devra Sisitsky, Executive Director of MakerspaceCT. “Thanks to the support of DEWALT and Stanley Black & Decker, we’ve not only equipped these young adults with valuable trade skills but also instilled a sense of purpose and responsibility. The footlockers they created are tangible symbols of their hard work and the impact they can make in their communities."

The program aligns with Stanley Black & Decker’s commitment to closing the skilled trades gap through their Empower Makers Global Impact Challenge. DEWALT’s Grow the Trades Grant, part of a $30 million initiative to support vocational training by 2027, enables organizations like MakerspaceCT to address critical workforce shortages.

Looking Ahead

MakerspaceCT is thrilled to announce it has been awarded another Grow the Trades Grant for 2025. The Building on the Trades program will return this fall to train a new cohort of young adults, continuing its mission to address the skilled trades gap in Connecticut, where demand for skilled workers is projected to grow 8% by 2026.

MakerspaceCT is a 28,000-square-foot innovation lab in downtown Hartford, bridging traditional trade skills and advanced technologies. Since 2019, this non-profit organization has provided hands-on education in trades, fabrication, and prototyping, fostering collaboration among students, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers.