Renovations are set to begin this spring on a new manufacturing lab at Synergy Alternative High School. What is currently a storage space will be remodeled and outfitted with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines and other manufacturing tools for student use.
On January 4, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy visited Synergy to announce the funding to make this lab possible. The $730,000 federal grant will pay for the renovations and the equipment, as well as a new Career and Technical Education teacher to lead the program.
The lab will provide in-school access to skilled technical training that will prepare students for internships and employment in the manufacturing field.
“Synergy students will now have a greater chance of joining the manufacturing workforce,” said Synergy Principal Edgardo Figueroa. “They’ll now be able to make their dreams of providing for themselves and their families a reality.”
During the press conference, Senators Blumenthal and Murphy said they fought for East Hartford to receive this funding because there is a shortage of skilled candidates to support Connecticut’s manufacturing needs.
“We see an application that is going to meet that workforce shortage in a town that has tons of great, capable students. That’s a no brainer,” said Senator Murphy.
Senator Blumenthal said, “We need to train the workforce of the future. We need to make sure that the skills needed at Pratt and all those other aerospace manufacturers are there for our future.”
The program will support up to 75 students annually. The goal is to welcome the first group of students to the program in the fall.