The 5 workforce development boards that make up the CWDC partner on regional and sector-based projects. Below are recent examples of coordinated responses to employment and training needs.
High-Tech Industry Skills Partnership
Driven by the documented needs of 54 industry partners, this partnership with the Office of Workforce Strategy was recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor in January 2021 with a $10M award to develop a pipeline of Connecticut workers in occupations in two industry sector-based initiatives: 1) tapping new talent for information technology (IT); and 2) retooling the advanced manufacturing workforce. Occupations in these industry sectors meet three criteria: a) in-demand (current); b) high-growth (future); and c) high-quality, as defined by wages and career advancement opportunities. The project area includes the entire state of Connecticut.
Industry Pipeline Initiative
In 2018, the state legislature authorized bond funds for the boards to lead statewide replication of a nationally-recognized workforce pipeline model that has placed over 1,700 workers into jobs in Eastern CT. The replication initiative applies the pipeline model so successful with manufacturing to other growth industries including healthcare. The model strategically aligns training options with employer needs and hiring schedules and offers high school students a short-term route to good jobs with strong career pathways. The Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) serves as the model. More than 90% of participants have been placed, generating more than $140 million in annual wages statewide.
Covid-19 Cares Act Relief
In July 2020, the Governor’s Workforce Council awarded $7.8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to the boards to prepare displaced Connecticut workers for in-demand careers through 15 training projects and a coordinated statewide support services initiative. Training aligned to immediate in-demand jobs with strong career pathways in industries such as healthcare, IT, and manufacturing. Within five months, the boards had enrolled 617 jobseekers into short-term, demand-driven training, paid work experience, and on-the-job training backed up with aid for child care, transportation, laptops, and Wi-Fi, as well as cash stipends.
Free Online Classes & Industry Certifications
In response to COVID-19, the CT Workforce Development Council and Governor Ned Lamont launched an online learning platform in May 2020 to deliver flexible, cost-effective services to laid-off and furloughed workers while the doors to most bricks-and-mortar education and training providers remained closed. SkillUp CT provides learning licenses to upgrade skills and prepare for 100+ industry-recognized certifications online, backed by on-request career coaching from the workforce boards. More than 22,000 CT residents registered for unlimited access to 5,000+ online courses in IT, business analysis, customer service, project management, digital literacy and more and completed over 32,000 course modules in the first 7 months.
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