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In addition to the reporting by Connecticut Public Radio that appears below, Connecticut Public Television has produced two video series that focus on manufacturing in our state:Made in Connecticut profiles some of Connecticut's local manufacturing businesses, from high-tech to handmade.Making the Future introduces us to some Connecticut youth pursuing careers in manufacturing and the trades. This series was produced as part of the American Graduate: Getting to Work project with support form the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Will Connecticut Be Part of a Manufacturing Renaissance?

Jonathan Haeber
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Creative Commons
The machine shop at the former Swift gold leaf factory in Hartford, part of the state's legacy in the manufacturing industry.
Gov. Dannel Malloy honoring United Technologies at an event hosted by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in 2012.
Credit Office of Dannel Malloy
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Office of Dannel Malloy
Gov. Dannel Malloy honoring United Technologies at an event hosted by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in 2012.

Changes in technology, energy and world labor markets are all driving a manufacturing renaissance in the U.S., but some economists believe Connecticut may miss out, despite its storied history as a manufacturing state.

The state has taken steps to retain its biggest manufacturing employer, United Technologies, and that safeguards thousands of jobs in supply chain companies around Connecticut.

Credit Chion Wolf / WNPR
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WNPR
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy during a visit to WNPR.

U.S. Senator Chris Murphytold WNPR’s Where We Live that the Nutmeg State must also continue to invest in its workforce, improve its transportation infrastructure, and get smart about tax policy. "There is an open question," he said, "as to whether Connecticut is going to be part of this reindustrialization of America that is happening." 

"Connecticut is poised," Murphy said, "specifically in the area of aerospace, to be part of that reindustrialization. There is an enormous backlog of aerospace work that needs to be done, particularly on the private sector side."

Gov. Dannel Malloy announced legislation in January, at Pegasus Manufacturing in Middletown, to create a new Advanced Manufacturing Fund.
Credit Office of Dannel Malloy
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Office of Dannel Malloy
Gov. Dannel Malloy announced legislation in January, at Pegasus Manufacturing in Middletown, to create a new Advanced Manufacturing Fund.

"If Connecticut is smart about how we invest in workforce," Murphy said, "and how we invest in technology, then we can be part of that boom. Admittedly, we have not seen the numbers of increased manufacturing jobs that other parts of the country have seen over the past five years."

Hear more from Senator Murphy and from some of the state’s manufacturers on Where We Live. The show kicks off a new year-long project, Made in Connecticut, which will examine the state of the manufacturing industry.

Harriet Jones is Managing Editor for Connecticut Public Radio, overseeing the coverage of daily stories from our busy newsroom.

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