CT State Capital Ribbon-Cutting Celebrates New Manufacturing Center

In group photo, L to R: Capital alumnus Joseph Chester, flow line machinist at Pursuit Aerospace, Marisa Rubera, Ed.D., CT State Capital director of manufacturing, Capital Campus CEO Duncan Harris, Ed.D., Jacqueline Gallo, executive vice president of Pursuit Aerospace, CT State President John Maduko, M.D., and Jose Colon, CT State Capital associate dean of campus operations.


HARTFORD, CT – CT State Community College (CT State) Capital celebrated the opening of its new 2,925-square-foot Manufacturing Center with a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 31. The facility will help address the ongoing demand for skilled manufacturing employees in Connecticut's workforce.

"Manufacturing is important to Connecticut’s economy, yet employers continue to face challenges in finding skilled workers,” said CT State President O. John Maduko, M.D. “This new Manufacturing Center provides our students with hands-on experience and training that equips them for high-demand jobs with family-sustaining wages. This not only secures their future but also strengthens Connecticut’s manufacturing sector.”

The new center, equipped with manual and CNC mill and lathe machines, brings together classroom instruction and hands-on lab training in one location at Capital. This eliminates the need for students to travel to a secondary location, increasing accessibility and convenience for manufacturing students.

Years ago, Capital’s manufacturing program was discontinued when the campus moved to its current location at 950 Main Street. In 2021, the program was revived by utilizing space at a local technical high school, where students attended classes at Capital while traveling off-site for hands-on lab training.

“This center represents the culmination of years of effort to bring this program back to our campus, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our community,” said G. Duncan Harris, Ed.D., campus CEO of CT State Capital. “We are especially grateful for our partnership with Pursuit Aerospace, which not only provided students access to industrial-sized equipment in recent years but also helped secure a generous donation and has hired many of our graduates.”

Joseph Chester, a 2021 graduate of the program, shared his success story during the event. A father of a 10-year-old daughter, Chester received multiple job offers upon completing the program and now works at Pursuit Aerospace, a manufacturer of airplane engine parts. "I enjoyed applying what we learned in the classroom to the hands-on skills we developed in the shop," said Chester, who was promoted to flow line machinist within a year. "Every aspect of the program has been valuable, and I use those skills in my job every day."

Completed in just under a year, the new Manufacturing Center was made possible by a $500,000 donation through a donor to Capital’s foundation, combined with $733,180 in capital bond funding. The architect and contractor for the project are QA & M Architecture and Nosal Builders, Inc.

CT State Capital’s non-credit, seven-week manufacturing program prepares students with the foundational skills needed for immediate employment in the field. The campus plans to expand the program in the future with additional offerings to meet the growing demand for skilled workers. For more information, visit https://www.capitalcc.edu/ce/manufacturing/.