Anthony Musto

Musto Welcomes Manufacturing Training Center at HCC

BRIDGEPORT—Senator Anthony Musto (D-Trumbull) welcomed news today that a Regional Advanced Manufacturing Center will soon be established at Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport, to help students learn the skills necessary for work in today’s advanced manufacturing industries.

“The new Manufacturing Center at Housatonic Community college is all about connecting people with the skills they need to find good jobs. Connecticut has a legacy of high quality in advanced manufacturing that spans multiple generations. The training this Center provides will help young people to continue in that tradition, and earn a good living in the process,” said Senator Musto.

The new Manufacturing Center at HCC will feature computer labs, milling and lathe machines, CNC machines, rapid prototypers and a welding center. The college is also in the final stages of planning an engineering and design studio to complement the lab.

The Center will enable the college to significantly broaden its technology programs and course offerings. HCC plans to coordinate with multiple technical high schools in the Bridgeport area to offer workshops and align curricula.

These new programs will also prepare students interested in engineering, manufacturing and technology to transfer to four-year programs at Central Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut and Fairfield University.

Last October, the General Assembly passed a bipartisan Jobs Bill which set aside $17.8 million in state bond funding through FY 2013 for the development of manufacturing programs at three community colleges statewide.

The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education selected Housatonic Community College as one of these three colleges. The others are Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury and Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson.