Connecticut Awarded $8 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen Worker Training and Safety
The Connecticut Department of Labor will use new federal funding to expand workforce development and integrate occupational safety training across construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation sectors.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Nov 07, 2025
The Connecticut Department of Labor has received an $8 million federal grant to expand workforce training programs in high-demand industries, with a focus on improving worker safety, skill development, and long-term job stability.
The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, will help enhance training programs in sectors that face persistent labor shortages — including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation.
According to state officials, the initiative is designed not only to meet labor market demand but also to strengthen occupational health and safety training within these industries. Participants will receive hands-on instruction in hazard recognition, safe equipment operation, and workplace injury prevention, along with technical skills development.
The Connecticut Department of Labor said the effort aligns with its mission to support both economic growth and worker protection, ensuring that new employees enter high-risk fields with the knowledge and resources to stay safe on the job.
Training funds will also be directed to community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and regional workforce boards to help standardize safety practices and improve employers' compliance-readiness statewide.
Officials noted that integrating safety fundamentals into workforce training helps reduce workplace incidents and improves productivity — a strategy that benefits both workers and employers.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.