Sen. Cicarella, HUBCAP Wallingford, 30 Local Businesses & Area Legislators Tackle CT Workforce Development Challenges

April 8, 2022

Wallingford-area business, nonprofit, government and community leaders gather for roundtable discussion to put students, Veterans and residents on career pathways.

Senator Cicarella 2022-04-08 HUBCAP Business Roundtable

 

State Sen. Paul Cicarella (R-North Haven) today partnered with HUBCAP Wallingford to find solutions to improve Connecticut’s workforce development programs with leaders from 30 local businesses, organizations and government agencies. Senator Cicarella was also joined by Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas Saadi, leaders from the Connecticut Department of Labor, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) and State Rep. Craig Fishbein (R-Wallingford).  

 

The organizations, which included a cross-section of industries, met with the local and state leaders for a roundtable discussion at HUBCAP’s Wallingford location. With stagnant job and income growth in the state, the roundtable discussion is another step for Senator Cicarella in his effort to connect residents with well-paying careers and employers will skilled employees through apprenticeship and job training programs.

 

The discussion included the challenges that organizations face in identifying, recruiting and retaining employees in a post-pandemic labor market. Senator Cicarella has led the effort with workforce development legislation through the Senate Republicans’ ‘A Better Way to A Prosperous Connecticut’ plan that includes legislative measures to create defined paths to careers for young people, opportunities for Veterans through licensure credits and vocational technology program recruitment. Currently, S.B. 228 contains two concepts from this plan and has since advanced from the legislature’s Education Committee.

 

“Thank you to HUBCAP Wallingford for their partnership to bring the right people in the room. This was a very productive discussion and is another step to put all Connecticut residents on a path to fulfilling careers. We have so many businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and schools that are doing great work to help our future workforce and entrepreneurs. The challenge that we saw today is that, in many instances, these services are duplicated and these organizations operate in silos. Our goal is to break down those silos to leverage best practices with state funding for the benefit of Connecticut job-seekers and employers,” said Senator Cicarella.

 

“We have outstanding workforce development models in our community in our local schools and the Joe Abate Foundation’s Ignite Talent program. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to replicate this success,” he said.