Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • December 9, 2019 • Hartford Business Journal 11 By Sean Teehan steehan@hartfordbusiness.com C onnecticut's manufac- turing sector is facing a historic workforce shortage that could get worse before it gets better, as aging Baby Boomers head toward retirement leaving thousands — or even tens of thou- sands — of open jobs for younger generations that have so far largely overlooked the industry. In response, Connecticut last year embarked on a new $50-million initiative to train and certify as many as 10,000 eligible residents to fill job shortages mainly in manufacturing, but also health care and construction. The Apprenticeship Connecticut initiative, a grant program over- seen by the state Department of Labor, is now in its second year with $10 million recently allo- cated to help fund skills-training programs developed by regional workforce-development boards. That's on top of the $5 million doled out for the program last year. But some involved in workforce development and manufacturing say there's a key problem with Appren- ticeship Connecticut: the funding available doesn't come close to the size and scale of the problem it en- deavors to solve. While the initiative is good, and seems to be approach- ing the right problems the right way, it's just one piece of a larger workforce- development puzzle that still has stakeholders scratching their heads. "It's not enough money, to put it in really simple English," said Lyle Wray, executive director of the Capitol Region Council of Gov- ernments (CRCOG), who has been involved in state workforce-develop- ment efforts in the past. "We've got 150,000 — give or take — manufac- turing jobs, 5 to 10 percent of work- ers are retiring every year, and we're producing 1 to 2 percent [as replace- ments]. Not to knock [Apprentice- ship Connecticut], but $5 million to $10 million doesn't cut it." Program proponents admit it's not a panacea for the industry's workforce woes, but it can be part of the solu- tion. Workforce development has become a main focus for Gov. Ned Lamont, who recently named two dozen busi- ness, nonprofit education and union leaders to a revamped workforce council that will study and recommend new workforce-development strategies. He also named a new chief manufac- turing officer — Colin Cooper — who will be focused on policies that help train the next generation of workers. For now, one of the key efforts underway is Apprenticeship Con- necticut, which State Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), who sponsored the bill that funded program, said has the potential to revamp manu- facturing here. "I believe that Connecticut has a once-in-a-generation oppor- tunity to get young people into what I would consider a basic job in Connecticut servicing over 400 manufacturers, and in particular our defense industry," Osten said. Department of Labor Commis- sioner Kurt Westby said about 1,000 companies are currently enrolled in the state's formal ap- prenticeship program, employing about 6,000 apprentices, mainly in construction. There is now a greater focus on manufacturing. Success stories So far, Apprenticeship Con- necticut has helped fund several job-training and placement efforts across the state. For example, the Northwest Regional Workforce Board, which has been awarded $1.25 million over four years through the program, has placed six people in official appren- ticeships, and about 20 more in non- apprenticeship training programs. That's in addition to work it's doing with local school districts, commu- nity colleges and manufacturers to create a more robust training-to- employment channel, said Executive Director Cathy Awwad. At the same time, Workforce Alliance, New Haven's regional workforce-development board, received $3.5 million to fund its Skill Up program, a five-week manufacturing pre-apprenticeship initiative, said Ann Harrison, the group's communications director. The program's curriculum was written in partnership with local manufacturers that provide input on the skills they need from entry- level and apprenticeship hires, and is taught by professors at Gateway and Middlesex community colleges. "This whole thing started be- cause employers were already tell- ing us they need people, there's not enough people applying who have skills," Harrison said. Skill Up, which has trained about 100 people and placed about 50 in Continued on next page >> Lyle Wray, Executive Director, Capitol Region Council of Governments State Sen. Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) Building Ranks As CT begins next round of $50M apprenticeship program, some say funding is woefully inadequate to fill manufacturing jobs pipeline Spartan Aerospace in Manchester is among the Connecticut manufacturers that offer apprenticeships. Pictured is tool-room foreman Lionel Andújar with a young apprentice measuring an aerospace component. PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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