Purpose/scope: the project is for design, development, and construction of a 75,000 SF "connecticut manufacturing technology & innovation center" which will be home to the connecticut center for…

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded a $16,011,270 Project Grant under the Congressionally-Identified Projects program (CFDA 11.617) to the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc. (CCAT) to design, develop, and construct a new 75,000 square foot "Connecticut Manufacturing Technology & Innovation Center" in East Hartford, CT. The new facility will serve as CCAT's headquarters and enable the organization to expand its research, development, training, and workforce development capabilities to better support the U.S. and regional industrial base. Key activities to be performed include consolidating CCAT's existing three leased facilities, acquiring leading-edge technology, and establishing the center as a hub for inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs to drive technology advancements and workforce impacts. The project aims to strengthen small and medium manufacturing suppliers, address skills gaps, and promote economic development in the region.

Activities

The magnitude of the demand for ccat's technical capabilities and innovative training and workforce development programs has exceeded the current capacity of ccat's three facilities. The ability to acquire leading-edge technology hardware and perform at the highest level expected of ccat to drive impact at scale throughout the industrial base and train the workforce of the future, requires the design and construction of the new manufacturing technology & innovation center. Ccat currently occupies three (3) leased facilities. Each facility will be vacated and relocated within ccat's new manufacturing technology & innovation center. The existing building space of ccat's three facilities by square footage totals 58,463SF.

Expected outcomes

The new manufacturing technology and innovation center will bring together ccat's nearly two decades of manufacturing technology experience and expertise in operating three technology facilities, convening industry, and delivering critical workforce training programs, into a modern, world-class, technologically advanced facility to meet the challenges facing the manufacturing industrial base. The center will also serve as the central hub for inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs and will focus on delivering technology advancement and innovative workforce impacts to the industrial base and manufacturing supply chains, as well as promoting and attracting additional advanced manufacturing economic development in the region.

Intended beneficiaries

As the region's only applied technology center and manufacturing technology hub, ccat engages thousands of small and medium sized supply chain companies that support some of the region's most important industries. To meet the critical demands of the industrial base, ccat's greatly expanded technology adoption and career readiness and life-skills programs serve companies throughout the innovation ecosystem and residents in urban centers and underserved communities. In addition, ccat's work with general dynamics-electric boat, raytheon technologies-p & w & collins aerospace, medtronic, lockheed martin-sikorsky, asml, assa abloy and many other industrial partners throughout the manufacturing sector has resulted in significant improvements in the technical capabilities, skills gaps, and competitiveness of small and medium sized manufacturers.