ECD Update
The latest in economic and community development.
Developing Views 2026 – Vol. 13
If your idea of implementing manufacturing staff training as an employer,or taking advantage of ongoing training opportunities as a manufacturing workforce team member is way off the center of your radar, there are a number of reasons why you should consider rethinking and reprioritizing your position.
Did you know that by 2030, 59% of the global workforce will require significant reskilling or upskilling; and 63% of employers cite skill gaps as the single biggest barrier to business transformation.
Here are a couple of other points to factor: companies with comprehensive training programs earn 218% higher income per employee compared to companies without formalized training. And 76% to 94% of employees say they are more likely to stay at a company that offers continuous training and development.
All this adds up to demanding more when it comes to training and upskilling your manufacturing workforce.
But what about the cost?
That’s where our Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB) and the Connecticut Dept. of Labor come in. For a limited time, funding to support manufacturing workforce training and upskilling is available to employers through the Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund – a USDOL-funded initiative administered through CTDOL and the NRWIB.
The program is designed to support employer-driven training and upskilling initiatives in high-demand industries, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, construction and skilled trades, transportation, distribution and logistics, and related supply-chain occupations.
Eligible participants are employees of a participating employer whose training costs are approved under the grant and who begin grant-funded training after eligibility has been determined. Participants may be either:
- Newly hired workers employed less than six months prior to the start of training.
- Incumbent workers employed six months or longer who require upskilling or advancement training.
The grant provides:
- Maximum reimbursement of up to $10,000 per participant.
- Up to 80% reimbursement for employers with fewer than 500 employees.
- Up to 50% reimbursement for employers with 500 or more employees.
- A maximum award of $1.5 million per employer.
- Performance-based reimbursement consisting of 90% paid upon verified training completion and the remaining 10% paid upon verification of six-month retention.
- Employers may utilize a variety of training approaches including incumbent worker training, customized training, registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, on-the-job training, classroom instruction, simulation-based training, AI-enabled learning, and employer-delivered training when approved.
The following specific training delivery methods are eligible for reimbursement:
The following specific training delivery methods are eligible for reimbursement:
On-the-Job Training (OJT): A work-based model where participants are hired and trained while engaged in productive work. This must be structured around defined competencies within an approved plan and must be aimed at full job competency and long-term employment.
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT): Programs designed to upskill current employees to address identified skill gaps, introduce new technologies (such as AI-enabled tools and automation), and support career advancement into higher-skilled or higher-wage positions.
Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships: Structured “earn-and-learn” models that combine paid work experience with related educational instruction. These must align with career pathways in targeted industries and lead to industry-recognized credentials.
Classroom, Cohort-Based, and Technology-Enabled Training: This includes short-term accelerated programs, instructor-led hybrid instruction, simulation-based or virtual reality training, and AI-integrated or adaptive learning models.
Customized Training: Training programs uniquely identified or designed in collaboration with the grantee to meet specific employer needs, provided the program does not already fall under OJT or a Registered Apprenticeship.
Occupational Skills Training: Pre-established training programs that the employer independently identifies and selects to meet their workforce needs.
Newtown’s Dept. of Economic and Community Development encourages local manufacturing employers to learn more, or to register and apply for the program.
Get started by visiting:
Submitted by Newtown ECD Director John Voket