New Forecast Shows How Federal Funding is Fueling Growth at EWIB and Powering Eastern CT’s Manufacturing Workforce

NORWICH, CT—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) shared new information that shows how funding authorized by Congress is fueling growth in eastern Connecticut’s skilled manufacturing workforce through the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board’s (EWIB) Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI). Rep. Courtney helped kick-start the MPI with its first federal funding in 2015, and since then the program has gone on to receive national recognition while placing over 2,700 graduates into high-skill, high-pay careers. Now, with so much new work opportunity at hand and on the horizon through increased submarine construction, new infrastructure projects, and more, Courtney has helped authorize new funding to help EWIB meet the booming level of demand for skills training.

According to financial forecasts released by EWIB for 2023, the workforce investment board is forecasting a total budget of $30.9 million in funding, nearly 60% of which is allocated to expand the MPI program and train more workers in eastern CT and across the state. Of that total $30.9 million, more than 70% is federal funding authorized by Rep. Courtney and the U.S. Congress, and $15.3 million of it comes directly from the American Rescue Plan Act.

“The MPI and the success of it has been a true testament to what can be done when you blend federal, state, and private dollars together to change the landscape of the workforce in our region. It all started with a federal grant supported by Congressman Courtney, and now the program continues to garner his support some seven years later. We are proud to have him as a partner on these initiatives and look forward to seeing these programs continue to expand,” stated Christopher Jewell, EWIB Chair.

“When you look at where we started, it’s pretty incredible to see how much success our workforce and manufacturing sector have had over the past few years,” said Rep. Courtney. “The MPI began in 2015 with a $5 million grant my office helped secure—fast forward to 2022, where the MPI has placed over 2,700 people into great new careers, and it’s obvious our skills training programs have silenced nearly everyone who doubted that we could become one of America’s strongest, most dynamic manufacturing hubs. Our workforce is booming, and that’s not happening in a vacuum—there’s more demand for the MPI because there’s so much new work opportunity coming down the pike through increased submarine construction, new infrastructure projects, clean energy manufacturing, and more. The MPI is what’s helped grow our workforce so that we can take on all these opportunities, and I’m proud keep fueling it today so that we can keep rising to the challenge.”

In 2015, Rep. Courtney helped kick-start EWIB’s MPI with its first-ever federal grant funding—an award of $6 million. The MPI has grown quite a bit since then, and it’s helped place thousands of people in new manufacturing careers.

In FY 2023, EWIB forecasts a total budget of $30.9 million to carry out its skills training and job placement programming. 71.4% of that total amount ($22.1 million) comes from federal funding authorized by Rep. Courtney and the U.S. Congress—including $15.3 million in grant awards through the American Rescue Plan Act. The Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which Rep. Courtney helps to craft as a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, represents the majority of the balance of federal funding.

Support through the American Rescue Plan has boosted support for EWIB and the MPI this year, and they will use the new American Rescue Plan funding specifically to:

• Launch a New Statewide Application Portal—EWIB will build a new skills training application portal based on already successful MPI principles, that can be utilized statewide ($1,782,691)
• Expand MPI Skills Training Opportunities Beyond Eastern CT—EWIB will work to expand the footprint of the MPI program across the entire state ($7,850,000)
• Expand Skills Training and Job Placement into New Industries—Funding will be used to implement MPI principles into 4 new industry sectors ($1,359,644)
• Focus on Job Training for Youth, and for the Health Care Industry—EWIB was awarded funding through the American Rescue Plan’s Good Jobs Challenge, and will use this funding specifically to expand their Youth MPI program, which currently operates at several high schools throughout CT-02, and to expand skills training opportunities specifically for the health care sector ($4,102,888)
• Help Provide Summer Jobs and Skills Training to Young People—EWIB will also use Rescue Plan funding to supplement its Summer Youth Employment efforts, particularly in New London and Norwich ($205,805)

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