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For Immediate Release
November 24, 2009
CBIA HELPS RETRAIN WORKERS FOR HIGH DEMAND MANUFACTURING JOBS
Ten recently laid-off workers completed a unique program that teaches them new skills to help them land high-demand jobs in manufacturing. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), the Manufacturing Alliance Service Corp. (MASC), Waterbury Adult Education, and the Northwest Workforce Investment Board (NW-WIB) sponsored the program for dislocated workers. The 13-week program focused on shop essentials, math, and blueprint reading, along with hands-on CNC precision machine skills training, and lean manufacturing processes.
“Businesses, especially manufacturers are still having a difficult time finding employees with the experience and skills needed to fill certain manufacturing jobs,” said Nancy Castonguay, CBIA advanced manufacturing grant manager. “This program helps fill two needs. It gets people back to work and provides companies with employees who have the expertise necessary to fill specific jobs that help the company remain competitive in today’s global marketplace.”
Graduates of the program:
- Luis Serrano, Waterbury
- Edward Fitz, Woodbury
- Jason Mancino, Torrington
- Charles Jenner, Wolcott
- Jefrey Petriccion, Ansonia
- Paul MacDonald, Wolcott
- Paul Pelkey, Waterbury
- Arnaldo Dulac, Winsted
- Tableegh Abdan-Nasir, Waterbury
- Ernest Leno, Torrington
A similar program was held this past summer with 13 graduates.
“We are very pleased with the success of these programs and hope to continue providing these necessary training classes,” said Judith K. Resnick, executive director of CBIA’s Education Foundation and director of workforce development and training. “Almost all of the graduates from last summer’s program have new jobs and we are hopeful that these 10 fall graduates will also be able to find work.”
The program was funded by a U.S. Department of Labor high Growth Job Training Initiative, a competitive grant awarded to CBIA in 2006 and Workforce Investment Act training dollars provided by the NW-WIB.
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CBIA is the state’s largest business organization, with 10,000 members.
For more information contact Nancy Andrews, CBIA media relations manager, at 860-244-1957 or andrewsn@cbia.com.
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