The Northwest CT Manufacturing Regional Sector Partnership, the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board, and the Manufacturers Alliance Service Corp (MASC) are pleased to announce funding for key workforce training program equipment.
Under the leadership of Representatives Michael DiGiovancarlo (74th District) and Ronald Napoli (73rd District), funding has been secured to finalize the implementation of the nation’s first workforce training program in the metal finishing industry. Representative DiGiovancarlo, who submitted the bonding proposal for MASC located in his district, expressed his support: “I am pleased to support the development of the MASC Technical Training Center. As it continues to grow as a statewide training entity, I am proud to back such a groundbreaking initiative as the METAL curriculum.”
Representative Napoli, as House Bonding Chairman, also emphasized the program’s importance: “Working with stakeholders from the manufacturing industry and Representative DiGiovancarlo to secure funds for the metal finishing program was a pleasure. This initiative will offer individuals in high census tracts a pathway to a meaningful career in metal finishing manufacturing.”
As part of the initiative by the Northwest CT Manufacturing Regional Sector Partnership, MASC will receive $300,000 for the purchase and installation of a self-contained electroplating unit. This essential equipment will enable the implementation of the innovative METAL (Master Electroplating Through Applied Learning) curriculum, launching in Fall 2024. The program aims to create career paths in Connecticut’s longstanding metal finishing sector.
The initiative is supported by local metal finishers including Metal Finishing Technologies, UniMetal Surface Finishing, Summit Plating, American Electro Products, Waterbury Plating, and Pape Electroplating, along with chemical manufacturers Hubbard-Hall and MacDermid. George A. LaCapra Jr., President of UniMetal Surface Finishing, LLC and chair of the METAL group, highlighted the program’s significance: “This initiative lays the foundation for long-lasting careers in our industry. The funding will enable us to provide hands-on training and create awareness about the vital role of metal finishing in everyday consumer items.”
MASC, a NIMS Certified post-secondary school and educational foundation, will be the training provider. Known for its advanced manufacturing-related training, MASC offers programs in plastic injection molding, CNC machining, and other manufacturing credentials, taught by expert faculty. The METAL training curriculum, seeking NIMS certification, will be delivered at MASC to address the need for a skilled manufacturing workforce.
The Manufacturing Regional Sector Partnership, established alongside a healthcare-focused partnership in August 2021 by the NRWIB, is part of a statewide initiative supported by the Office of Workforce Strategy and funded through the EDA's Good Job Challenge award. Led by industry executives like LaCapra and Peter Mirabello of MFT in Bristol, these partnerships are supported by community partners, including the workforce board, local chambers of commerce, and educational institutions. Catherine Awwad, President and CEO of NRWIB, stated, “The initial effort to establish these partnerships has been well worth it, as industry leaders who saw the potential have now reaped the benefits.”
We extend our gratitude to Waterbury legislators for their leadership in securing the bond funding, facilitating the installation of the equipment and the launch of the METAL curriculum. The ongoing support from Mayor Paul Pernerewski, Senator Joan Hartley, and the Waterbury delegation will ensure the program’s success. The MASC Training Center, a priority of former Mayor Neil O’Leary, continues to expand its programming to meet the demand for a highly skilled manufacturing workforce.