In response to the Connecticut Governor’s Workforce Council’s prioritization of regional sector partnerships as a way to harness the economic power of critical jobs sectors and better coordinate public support for those sectors, an industry-led regional sector partnership focused on growing and supporting the manufacturing industry in the South-Central region of Connecticut officially launched on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.

The South-Central Manufacturing Industry Partnership is led by four industry co-chairs: Chris Dimou, president and CEO of Roto Frank of America, Inc.; Marcia LaFemina, president of PennGlobe/PennSMART; Chris Ulbrich, CEO of Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc.; and Asi Carmeli, director of human resources of Hobson & Motzer, Inc.

Twenty-six senior manufacturing executives from Middlesex and New Haven Counties met virtually to kick off this industry-led group. At the launch meeting, business leaders identified the top opportunities and drivers of manufacturing growth in the region. The Partnership will reconvene in the next month to refine their priority areas, including identifying measurable outcomes and first actions.