The State Bonding Commission recently approved another $7 million to be invested in the state’s new advanced manufacturing centers at three community colleges.
The funding will be used for facility and equipment upgrades at Housatonic Community College (HCC) in Bridgeport, Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury and Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson.
The manufacturing programs are a part of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s 2011 jobs bill and seeks to prepare workers to fill open jobs in advanced manufacturing. In Bridgeport alone, HCC estimates there are more than 750 job openings in manufacturing.
Earlier this month, the first class of students  enrolled in program at HCC graduated with their advanced manufacturing certificates. Of the 50 students who began the two-part program, about 18 students completely finished.
The majority of the most recently round of funding will go to the construction of a manufacturing center at Quinebaug Valley Community College. About $1.5 million of the funding will be used to add a welding lab at HCC.
