Kara Rochelle

I hope this note finds you well as I write to share some exciting legislative news with you. I have been working tirelessly in Hartford on matters that affect the people in our community and communities like ours, and today we had an exciting step forward.

Quickly upon swearing-in I introduced HB 5833, An Act Establishing a Pilot Program for the Expansion of Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Programs. In Connecticut there are thousands of good paying jobs open in manufacturing and it is crucial we get our residents the training they need to attain these jobs. Today, this bill was unanimously passed by the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee.

I requested to be assigned to the Higher Education & Employment Advancement Committee specifically to be in the jobs conversation, crafting sensible legislation that gets people paired with the skills needed to compete for good paying jobs in growing fields, like Advanced Manufacturing.

The bill aims to establish a pilot program to expand advanced manufacturing certificate programs offered by regional community-technical colleges into up to eight public high schools throughout the state.

According to the Connecticut Department of Labor, there are over 12,000 open jobs in advanced manufacturing today in CT, and 30,000 are expected to open over the next ten years. It is crucial to invest in workforce training now to ensure people can compete for these good-paying jobs and support one of our top growing industries in the state.

A year ago I toured Housatonic Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program, learned of their efforts to partner with our own Derby High School, and since then have been determined to build and expand on their advanced manufacturing certificate model. Since being sworn in, I’ve focused on crafting a bill that will give our working class residents real access to job training opportunities that will help them compete for and secure these good, stable, middle class jobs with room for advancement.

The certification program will be available to students free of costs at the selected high schools, saving students $8,500 (the typical cost of the certification program). The bill also makes the program available to students from neighboring schools and to adults, who can attend the program on nights and weekends.

I am looking forward to next introducing the bill on the floor of the House and will continue to collaborate with colleagues to make this important initiative a reality.