Archived News

1/13/2022 – Eastern Conn. program serves as example as state puts $70 million into workforce training
- The Bulletin article (01/13/22), “Eastern Conn. Program serves as example as state puts $70 million into workforce training.” The article reports on the recently announced (01/05/22) Career ConneCT program. Dr. Kelli Vallieres, CT Office for Workforce Strategy Executive Director, is quoted stating, “. . . the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative has been an inspiration for Career Connect, as it ‘has gained national recognition, and showed effectiveness when applied in its entirety.’” EWIB President/CEO Mark Hill is quoted throughout the article providing the Board’s position on the state’s historic investment in workforce training.
1/14/2022 – Cardona, Courtney visit Groton schools to discuss career and technical education
7/4/2022 – Columbia keel laying proves our region gets big things done
- The Day Op-Ed article (07/04/22): “Columbia keel laying proves our region gets big things done.” EWIB and the MPI are noted in the article as, “ . . . help[ing] fuel that blitz, of course.”
7/24/2022 – Jobs program a win-win for teens, employers
- The Day front page article (07/24/22), “Jobs program a win-win for teens, employers ~ Younger workers help alleviate labor shortage.” The article informs readers about EWIB’s 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program. EWIB Chairman Chris Jewell is quoted in the article providing the Board’s position on the growing importance the SYEP has on the region’s labor force.
8/7/2022 – As the Connecticut jobs picture brightens, some see hope for young workers. Here’s why.
8/17/2022 –In Groton, labor secretary praises workforce development program
- Sample of media coverage of U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh visit to the region The Day front page article (08/17/22), “In Groton, labor secretary praises workforce development program ~ Walsh says CareerConneCT should be national example.” Media coverage for the visit was strong and included local, state, and national publications, television, radio, & social media.

1/3/2021 – Three Rivers receives grant for EB course
- The Day article (01/03/21), “Three Rivers gets grant for Electric Boat course ~ Collaboration comes as company seeks welding support at Quonset Point site.” The article reports on a contract the College was recently awardedto develop & teach a welding course that includes a U.S. Dept. of the Navy certification to Electric Boat (EB) workers. EWIB and the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) are both named in the article.
2/18/2021 – Connecticut needs thousands of skilled workers to build nuclear submarines in coming years. Job training is available for unemployed workers.
- Hartford Courant article (02/18/21): “Connecticut needs thousands of skilled workers to build nuclear submarines in coming years. Job training is available for unemployed workers.”
2/26/2021 – Workforce Training a Priority in Southeast CT Ahead of Historic Submarine Production
- NBC CT story (02/26/21), “Workforce Training a Priority in Southeast CT Ahead of Historic Submarine Production ~ Groton-based General Dynamics Electric Boat is facing the largest amount of contracted work in the company’s history.”
3/7/2021 – ‘So many success stories’
- Sunday Bulletin front page article, “So many success stories ~ As many industries falter during COVID-19, MPI is filling in-demand manufacturing jobs” (03/07/21). The article focused on its key role in supplying workers to the manufacturing industry.
3/27/2021 – Lamont’s commitment to job training delivers early dividends
5/5/2021 – Cabinet secretaries hail EB effort, EB touts apprenticeship program for visiting officials
- The Day front page article (05/05/21): “Cabinet secretaries hail EB effort ~ Raimondo, Walsh learn about apprenticeship program during visit.” The article reports on the 05/04/21 visit by the U.S. Secretaries of Labor & Commerce to Electric Boat (EB) to learn about the company’s apprenticeship program. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (CT 2^nd Dist.) and others noted EWIB and the role of our Eastern CT Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) during their remarks.
7/25/2021 – Sen. Murphy: Manufacturing is Connecticut’s future, if we’re smart about it
9/17/2021 – Courtney: ‘Broken childcare system’ underlines eastern Connecticut hiring woes”
- The Bulletin article (09/17/21), “Courtney: ‘Broken childcare system’ underlines eastern Connecticut hiring woes,” The article lists EWIB and notes EWIB President/CEO Hill providing the Board’s position on utilizing any potential funding received from President Biden’s proposed budget towards an expansion of the MPI to other industry sectors.

2/4/2020 Courtney invites Beauregard to State of Union Address
3/5/2020 – Pipeline program earns honor
7/3/2020 – Connecticut youth employment program expands by $2 million
- The Bulletin article, “Connecticut youth employment program expands by $2 million,” dated Jul. 3, 2020. The article quotes EWIB President Mark Hill providing the Board’s position on the significant impact additional state funding will have on this year’s EWIB Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP).
7/4/2020 – Workforce board president steps down
7/27/2020 – Education, business leaders seek diversified workforce
- The Day article, “Education. Business leaders seek diversified workforce,” dated: Jul. 27, 2020. The article quotes EWIB President/CEO Mark Hill remarking on the importance of a diversified workforce.
12/21/2020 – What do we get for the billions spent on job training? Connecticut wants to know.
- Hartford Business Journal article, “What do we get for the billions spent on job training? Connecticut wants to know.” (12/21/20). The article reports on Connecticut’s workforce development system. EWIB and our Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) are named in the article. “’Since it started in 2016, we’ve up-skilled, re-skilled and re-employed over 1,500 people. And in the course of doing that, we’ve generated over $50 million in wages,’ said [Kelli] Vallieres, one of the manufacturing executives who helped develop the pipeline.”

2019

1/6: Manufacturing Pipeline connects seekers, jobs

3/21: RHAM students take to lathes, milling machines in advanced manufacturing class

4/7: Region’s pipeline program paying off

4/16: Advice to high schools from Connecticut manufacturers desperate to fill jobs: steer students away from college

4/17: U.S. Labor secretary lauds local job training program

4/17: Acosta praises training program

4/17: U.S. Labor Secretary Commends Eastern Connecticut ‘Earning and Learning’ Manufacturing Pipeline

5/29: EWIB chief set to retire next year

6/6: Project taking on poverty

7/16: “Pipeline Initiative” Provides Intensive Training For Manufacturing in Eastern Connecticut

9/6: Officials: new Grasso Tech building will prep students for workforce

9/27: Eastern Connecticut’s Manufacturing Pipeline getting rave reviews

9/28: Manufacturing jobs grow in eastern Conn.

10/10: Eastern Connecticut leads state in manufacturing job growth

10/14: Seasons: Making things right

10/19: Healthcare officials consider nursing pipeline

11/30: Region to get plastics manufacturing training program

12/9: As CT begins next round of $50M apprenticeship program, some say funding is woefully inadequate to fill manufacturing jobs pipeline

“Skill Up, which has trained about 100 people and placed about 50 in manufacturing jobs, is modeled after the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board’s (EWIB) four-year-old Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, which is considered an industry gold standard. EWIB received $3.5 million in Apprenticeship Connecticut funds during the initiative’s first year.”

2018

1/11: Osten right about preparing for EB growth

2/11: Solving Connecticut’s workforce challenge requires focus, collaboration

5/21: Employment & Training Reporter

5/27: NFA students join pipeline of talent

6/27: More girls ‘go for it’ in mostly male fields

7/17: Officials celebrate new job center in Montville, talk manufacturing gains

7/29: Job center invaluable to region

8/18: EWIB: Your Pipeline to Employee Success

8/27: Building Connecticut’s Workforce Pipeline

10/30: Business leaders discuss successes, challenges of growing the workforce

11/29: seCTer breakfast focuses on region’s strengths