Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • February 18, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 11 reach to Hartford and East Hartford companies. The group has devel- oped a marketing plan and has been promoting since January its services through local chambers and manu- facturing associations. To date, two subsidy-eligible applica- tions have been submitted for review through TLAP's online application. The goal is to approve as many projects as possible, provided the TLAP institutions have the proper equipment and resourc- es to support the project. He noted some projects may rely on the resources of one institution or po- tentially all three, which includes a broad spectrum of tools. "UHart has its metrology [technol- ogy], CCAT specializes in additive manufacturing [like 3D printing] and Goodwin has a strong base of machine tools, woodworking equipment and metal-working equipment," Streibel said. He expects to see an uptick in ap- plications as area manufacturers and entrepreneurs in need of prototype assistance or engineering learn more about the program. He also hopes to add more educational partners to the TLAP initiative over time. Cliff Thermer, Goodwin College's assistant vice president for strat- egy and business development, is encouraged by the investment and collaboration he sees in the region. "We are in a new era of interagency collaborations among state and private educational institutions and corporate partners," Thermer said. Cote agrees. She says she has spent 15 years working in Hartford on entrepreneurial endeavors and has never felt more optimistic about Hartford and the region's future. "We have a community full of com- mitted, passionate leaders who realize the potential we have," Cote said. "The more people want to get involved and join in the effort, the stronger [the region] will ultimately be." FOCUS last year's proposal was unanimously approved in both the House and Sen- ate but vetoed by then Gov. Malloy. His administration had some concerns with the proposal. After Gov. Lamont proposes his budget, we will be work- ing with his office and the General As- sembly to make sure this year's version of the bill is one that will continue to garner strong legislative support and get the governor's signature. Q. Besides workforce development, what other major challenges are manufacturers facing? A. Workforce development consid- ered broadly encompasses a vast array of issues, including attracting more students and teachers, and creating a variety of seamless educational path- ways for meeting the wide range of current and future workforce needs. But there are other challenges, including research, development and deployment of new technologies for manufacturers of all sizes. Connecti- cut is fortunate to have a growing number of institutions involved in technology development and deploy- ment. But there is insufficient stra- tegic coordination among them and insufficient dialogue with the broader manufacturing community to ensure the right technologies are being in- vested in and made accessible. Q. Connecticut's manufacturing in- dustry, surprisingly, has grown jobs in Continued on next page >> PDS has been meeting the needs of the construction industry since 1965. Our dedicated team of design and construction professionals welcomes the challenge of serving its past and future customers on their most demanding projects. Bloomfi eld Fire Department | Bloomfi eld, Connecticut PDS acted as General Contractor to complete renovations to the Bloomfi eld Fire Burn Building. PDS installed new fi re resistant steel shutters, hollow metal doors and gauge gutters. The project was completed on time and within budget. DESIGN BUILDERS • GENERAL CONTRACTORS • CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS SPOTLIGHT ON: P S 107 Old Windsor Road, Bloomfi eld, CT 06002 (860) 242-8586 | Fax (860) 242-8587 www.pdsec.com PDS ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION, INC. THINK • PLAN • BUILD On average, we save our clients 10 to 20% on all goods and services and our business model is risk free. For a company that is in manufacturing or has large expenditures, this can make a huge impact. WHAT WOULD A 20% SAVINGS ON PROCURED ITEMS MEAN TO YOUR BUSINESS? Visit our website at www.StrategicSupplyChainSolutions.com or contact us at 860-477-4742. We would be glad to discuss how we can bring results to your business' bottom line. Anton Cherry (right), of Crystal MedTech LLC, and University of Hartford engineering student Jason Belair work in the Mechatronics/Smart Systems Laboratory at UHart.

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