Donald E. Williams, Jr.

Williams, Local Business Leaders and Faculty Celebrate Selection of Quinebaug Valley Community College as a Manufacturing Technology Center for Eastern Connecticut

Senator Williams: Center will ensure residents are able to compete for 21st century jobs

BROOKLYN—Senate President Donald E. Williams, Jr. (D-Brooklyn) joined with legislators, business leaders and faculty to celebrate State Board of Regents’ selection of Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC) as a Manufacturing Technology Center—one of only three schools selected statewide—for eastern Connecticut and discuss the schools plans to train the workforce of the future. 

“This represents a major victory for manufacturing and jobs in northeast Connecticut,” said Senator Williams. “We often hear from businesses that they want to hire more people but lack well-trained candidates. The education and training provided by QVCC will ensure our residents are able to compete for the future and will ensure the ‘Quiet Corner’ won’t be so quiet anymore.”

The mission of the Center will be to offer a variety of credit and non-credit certificate programs for incumbent workers, displaced workers, returning veterans, technical high school students and traditional college students. It will include a career-focused curriculum specifically designed for entry-level employment and employment advancement in the evolving manufacturing sector of eastern Connecticut. As part of the plan, the Center will offer programs designed to provide high school juniors and seniors with opportunities to explore career paths in manufacturing. Additionally, the Center will coordinate personalized career placement and mentoring programs.

“We are very excited about this incredible opportunity to have one of the new Manufacturing Technology Centers being funded by the state legislature located at QVCC,” said Dr. Ross Tomlin, President of QVCC.  “It will be a huge boost to our region and our college.  We have tremendous support of the manufacturers in our region and this new program will start to produce graduates with hands-on skills to fill their need for trained workers as soon as next summer.  We greatly appreciate the strong support for this center from local legislators and manufacturers, as well as the financial donations committed by Spirol Corporation and Whitcraft. “

QVCC’s Manufacturing and Technology Center will allow the expansion of programs in advanced manufacturing and precision manufacturing.  QVCC already has strong partnerships with the manufacturing firms in this area.  The Center will have a significant and positive impact on the region’s high unemployment, and provide opportunities for young people and working adults to obtain the skills needed to serve the state’s vital manufacturing sector.

QVCC’s proposal includes tripling the size of their manufacturing lab space—which combined with the ongoing renovations of Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School will create a critical mass of manufacturing training space in eastern Connecticut. The combined efforts of both these schools will lead to trained workers ready to compete for 21st century jobs.

“Ellis Tech is very excited about the opportunity to enhance our relationship with QVCC through the newly awarded grant money to create a manufacturing center,” said Dr. Brian K. Mignault, Sr., principal, H.H. Ellis Technical High School. “Our students and community will benefit through exceptional training with the most up-to-date technologies.  Congratulations to the entire QVCC community.”