Colleges Could Get ‘Manufacturing' status

A measure establishing a program to encourage the proliferation of engineering programs in colleges and universities has been proposed with bipartisan support, according to a release from U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty.

The so-called “Manufacturing Universities Act” would offer $5 million annually to colleges with the intention of improving engineering programs with an emphasis on manufacturing and support for students in those programs.

“Connecticut is built on its strong manufacturing tradition and thrives as a national leader in manufacturing, particularly for defense, biomedical, and energy industries,” Esty said. “Our state is home to over 5,000 manufacturers that provide good paying jobs for Connecticut families, but manufacturers often struggle to find workers with the right skills.”

Esty co-sponsored the legislation with, among others, U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who said the bill was intended to help create a skilled workforce.

“As a small business owner who worked in manufacturing for over 35 years, I understand the difficulty in training and finding qualified manufacturing workers,” said Congressman Collins (R-NY). “To expand manufacturing in the United States, we need to have a workforce capable of filling these skilled jobs.”