Rep. Rochelle Selected for ManufactureCT 2021 Outstanding Leadership in Government Affairs Award

September 23, 2021

State Representative Kara Rochelle (D – Ansonia/Derby) has been chosen by ManufactureCT for its 2021 Outstanding Leadership in Government Affairs award. She will be honored during ManufactureCT's Annual Celebration on Tuesday, September 28 at Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven, Conn. 

"It is an honor to receive this award from ManufactureCT. Since day one, I have been keenly aware of the needs of the manufacturing industry and its role in building a strong middle-class in Connecticut," said Rep. Rochelle. "This sector is rapidly growing, and I am pleased to work alongside great organizations like ManufactureCT to help move the industry forward. I am proud to have crafted and passed a range of pro-manufacturing legislation from building job training pipelines to connect residents to good-paying manufacturing jobs to extending tax credits to smaller manufacturers and establishing a taskforce to meet Industry 4.0 needs." 

ManufactureCT has selected two honorees – one from the Connecticut House of Representatives and one from the Connecticut Senate. Senator Joan Hartley (D – Waterbury, Middlebury, Naugatuck) is the Senate honoree. Rep. Rochelle has found a strong partner in Sen. Hartley on issues concerning the manufacturing industry.  

During the 2021 legislative session, Rep. Rochelle worked to secure $5 million in the legislature's bond bill to advance manufacturing training across Connecticut, accelerating the implementation of a pilot program she developed and passed in 2019 to expand the community college Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program into more Connecticut high schools. This provision will strengthen the educational workforce pipeline and provide students and adults with the skills needed to compete for the thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs currently available across Connecticut. Rep. Rochelle also advocated for and helped secure an extension of tax breaks for small manufacturers in the state budget. 

Additionally, Rep. Rochelle served as a driving force in the effort to open the Housatonic Community College Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program to adult learners in Derby and worked to ensure the state budget included funding for Ansonia to potentially send students to Derby High School's manufacturing program. Rep. Rochelle backed the creation of the Office of Workforce Strategy and legislation that establishes a taskforce to ensure Connecticut is responsive to modern manufacturers' workforce and technological needs, positioning the state to become a leader in the Industry 4.0 economy. 

 

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