Episode 7: Connecticut’s Collaborative Blueprint: Growing American Manufacturing Ecosystems
A huge thank you to Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, Paul Lavoie, Chief Workforce Officer, Kelli-Marie Vallieres for coming on Manufacturing an American Century, to share the innovative approaches that CT’s state government has taken to play a more meaningful leadership role in developing and supporting the state’s 4600 manufacturers. Join host Matt Bogoshian and learn more about the gains that can be made from the close collaboration between Paul and Kelli-Marie, and how this novel approach can apply to other states’ efforts to support their manufacturing ecosystems!
📢 Episode Highlights:
Connecticut’s Manufacturing Ecosystem: Learn how Connecticut’s small size houses a dense network of over 4,368 manufacturers and how the state’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund is driving growth and support in the sector.
Federal and State Collaboration: Paul explores the synergy between Connecticut’s state-level initiatives and federal investments in manufacturing, and how this collaboration is setting a model for other regions.
Building a Robust Workforce: Kelli-Marie shares her strategies in workforce development, including an overview of how the Career Connect program is revolutionizing the connection between potential employees and training programs.
Building Stakeholder Consensus: Kelli-Marie addresses the challenges and strategies in aligning various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of collaborative practices and collective impact in enhancing the manufacturing ecosystem.
The Governor’s Role in Driving Collaboration: Paul underlines the governor’s influence in fostering a collaborative environment, leading to natural alignment and progress in the manufacturing sector.
Connecticut’s Manufacturing Strategic Plan: Paul details the plan’s focus on innovation, workforce development, supply chain resilience, and industry growth, emphasizing the importance of nurturing existing businesses alongside new ventures.
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Thank you to the Economic Development Administration for their partnership in producing this podcast. This podcast was prepared in part using Federal funds under award 3070145 from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Economic Development Administration or the U.S. Department of Commerce.
