The Connecticut First Coalition

For all media inquiries, contact Ron Dresner at 860.523.7500 or via cell at 860.305.7728 or via email at rond@dennispr.com.

Hartford Area Minority Training Program To Hold Graduation Ceremony This Friday At The New England Laborers' Training Academy In Pomfret, CT

Successful Employment & Life Skills Training Program Is Result Of Partnership With The New England Laborers’, Hartford Jobs Funnel & NIEHS Worker Education & Training Program

-For immediate release: 7/25/07
For more information: Ron Dresner
ron@dennispr.com 860.523.7500
Cell: 860.305.7728

(Hartford, CT) – Over 20 trainees from the New England Laborers’ - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (HIEHS) Minority Outreach Training Program will graduate this Friday, July 27, 2007 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the New England Laborers' Training Academy, Pomfret, CT. The employment training program was established as a result of a $200,000 grant in December 2006 and is administered by the Hartford Jobs Funnel and Capital Workforce Partners.

"This is the result of a very comprehesive seven-week training program which included instruction about mason tending, general construction and life skills. Our huge training facility in Pomfret, CT is fully-equipped to provide comprehensive courses in general construction, hazardous waste remediation, lead and asbestos abatement and a number of other building and construction trades disciplines. The program offered talented Hartford area individuals classroom and hands-on instruction allowing them to form the roots of a life-long career," said Charles LeConche, director, Connecticut First Coalition. "I look forward to continuing this tremendously successful program on a statewide basis in light of labor demands of the upcoming Metropolitan District's upgrade project." (An announcement is expected to be made at Friday's event about expanding the jobs training program statewide during the next 12 months).

The speakers' agenda for the graduation ceremony is as follows:
- Welcome - Joseph M. Sabitoni, Training Director, New England Laborers Training Academy
- Paul Doyle, Connecticut State Senator
- Bob Weimar, Chief, Programming Management Unit, Metropolitan District Commission
- Charles LeConche, Business Manager, Connecticut Laborers' District Council
- John Farnham, Connecticut Construction Industry Association
- Minnie Gonzalez, Connecticut State Representative
- rJo Winch, Hartford City Council
- Joseph Guidry, previous graduate, Minority Outreach Training Program
- Vanessa Holmes, Trainee, Minority Outreach Training Program
- Presentation of Certificates - Dominic Izzi, Connecticut Apprenticeship Coordinator, New England Laborers
- New Statewide Program Announcement & Closing Remarks - Joseph M. Sabitoni

The Minority Outreach Training Program graduation ceremony will take place at the New England Laborers' Training Academy, 37 Deerfield Road, Pomfret, CT, 860.974.0800 or 860.974.1455. (For more in-depth information about the event and directions, visit www.ctfirst.com/mtp.html).

The Laborers' - AGC Education and Training Fund is a partnership between the Laborers’ International Union of North America and the Associated General Contractors of America. Since its establishment in 1969, this nonprofit labor/management trust fund has enjoyed a history of success through cooperation. Through the development of standardized education and training programs, the organization has administered grants to support curriculum development and training, technical support and quality professional and technical development opportunities.

The Hartford Jobs Funnel is a program under the administration of Capital Workforce Partners and a service delivery system that assists Hartford residents to prepare to enter the construction field. Since 1999, the Hartford Jobs Funnel has placed over 750 Hartford residents into jobs in construction that include the following job classifications: asbestos workers, bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, laborers, operating engineers, painters, plumbers, roofers, sheet metal workers, sprinkle fitters and tapers.

Over 300 businesses throughout Connecticut have utilized the Hartford Jobs Funnel resources for a dependable source of labor. Located at 20-28 Sargeant Street, Hartford, CT, phone (860) 524-8859, the Hartford Jobs Funnel is funded by Capital Workforce Partners, CT Light & Power, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Making Connections and the Office for Workforce Competitiveness. Hartford Jobs Funnel Steering Committee Members include: Tony March, CCEDA, Chairperson; Ana Alfaro, CL&P; Kim Andy, Office for Workforce Competitiveness; Carol Coburn, CCS/CON; John Farnham, Associated General Contractors; Jack Guerrera, Connecticut Department of Labor; James Johnson, City of Hartford; Charles LeConche, Laborers Local 230; Mario Marrero, Capitol Region Council of Governments; Thomas L. Phillips, Capital Workforce Partners; Rick Porth, Hartford Foundation of Public Giving; Alice Pritchard, Connecticut Women’s Legal Fund; Phil Rapuano, Hartford Building Trades Council; Marilyn Rossetti, Hartford Areas Rally Together; Lillian Ruiz, City of Hartford; Victor Rush, Hartford Housing Authority; and the Minority Construction Council.

The Connecticut First Coalition supports laws that promote responsible Connecticut contractors and the people who work for them. The group also supports training and apprenticeship programs for Connecticut residents and the use of project labor agreements, which cities and towns have employed to put their residents back to work. The Connecticut First Coalition consists of hundreds of individuals, organizations, political and civic leaders and businesses that are promoting “Connecticut First”. The efforts of the group since its inception over a year ago, have helped to create new jobs in the state, led to keeping more taxpayer money being spent within Connecticut and helped to uncover taxpayer waste in the development of poorly constructed buildings. Members of the Connecticut First Coalition include the Greater Hartford-New Britain Building Trades, Minority Construction Council, Associated General Contractors and the Laborers’ District Council. For more information about the Connecticut First Coalition, visit www.ctfirst.com.

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(MEDIA NOTE: Visit www.ctfirst.com/mtp.html for the in-depth and background information and directions to the graduation ceremony. Also, Charles Sheehan, CEO, MDC has been added to the program agenda and an announcement about expanding the training program statewide during the next 12 months will be made).

The Minority Outreach Training Program graduation ceremony will take place at the New England Laborers' Training Academy, 37 Deerfield Road, Pomfret, CT.  You can use the Mapquest map and direction finder below for directions. Phone numbers are 860.974.0800 or 860.974.1455.

NOTE: THE ACTUAL ENTRANCE TO THE CEREMONY IS ON MURDOCH ROAD - Rt. 97.  TAKE A LEFT AFTER LITTLE LEAGUE BALLFIELD.  LOOK FOR SIGNS POINTING TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE TRAINING FACILITY.

The New England Laborers’ Training Academy & Hartford Jobs Funnel Expand Partnership Under NIEHS Worker Education & Training Grant

- Over $200,000 In Funding Will Provide Job Training, Life Skills & Employment Assistance For Hartford Area Residents In 2007 -