- Governor Ned Lamont looks to dedicate $103 million in federal funds to workforce development initiatives in Connecticut
- Investment aims to address a disconnect between Connecticut’s high unemployment rate and robust job postings for skilled workers
- The bulk of the funding would go toward sector-based training programs for 9,000 workers
Summary by Dirk Langeveld
Governor Ned Lamont is proposing that Connecticut should dedicate $103 million in federal funds to addressing employer needs and expanding job opportunities for workers who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The money would come from Connecticut’s share of funding under the American Rescue Plan.
Key points of Lamont’s proposal include:
- An effort to address a disconnect between 140,000 unemployed residents and strong job posting figures as employers seek skilled workers in high-demand fields such as manufacturing, information technology, and healthcare
- The bulk of the funding, $95.5 million, would be used to “reskill and upskill 9,000 displaced workers through sector-based training programs”
- The remaining funds would provide training and support at-risk and previously incarcerated youth and adults, while also extending the operating hours of 10 Connecticut Technical Education and Career System programs
