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Connecticut to spend $62 million in federal COVID-relief money on workforce development

Harriet Jones
/
Connecticut Public Radio
A workforce training class.

Connecticut will use $62 million of its federal COVID-relief money to support workforce development on job training programs.

The goal is to prepare about 8,000 people from disadvantaged communities for positions in manufacturing, healthcare, IT, infrastructure and green jobs, said Governor Ned Lamont. He acknowledged that state employers say about 75,000 jobs in manufacturing and other industries are going unfilled.

“Not everyone needs two years or four years of college. Sometimes a 16-week or 24-week program is what it takes to launch an amazing career in a job where we really need you to participate,” said Lamont.

The state is spending the money, which comes from the American Rescue Plan, on programs targeted to industry needs, said Kelli-Marie Vallieres, the state's chief workforce officer.

“The allocations were based on industry demand, not only on current demand but the demand into the future, to ensure that people have upward mobility once they get into those industries,” she said.

The money would cover the cost of the training as well as child care, transportation, food and housing for participants who might need the help, Vallieres said.

Copyright 2022 WSHU. To see more, visit WSHU.

As WSHU Public Radio’s award-winning senior political reporter, Ebong Udoma draws on his extensive tenure to delve deep into state politics during a major election year. In addition to providing long-form reports and features for WSHU, he regularly contributes spot news to NPR, and has worked at the NPR National News Desk as part of NPR’s diversity initiative.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.