Housatonic Community College (HCC) invites the community to save the date to attend a celebration of a decade of advancing student careers in manufacturing. On November 9, 2022, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm the college will host a 10-year anniversary celebration of its state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Technology Program.

In 2012, Housatonic Community College unveiled its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center (AMTC), answering the call for a pipeline of trained workers to enter thousands of unfilled jobs in the state’s manufacturing sector. Ten years later, hundreds of students have graduated the program with a certificate to immediately gain employment.

“In direct response to manufacturer’s needs, Housatonic’s Advanced Manufacturing Program prepares students in our state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing technology center for rewarding and lucrative careers while positively impacting the state’s economy,” said Dr. Dwayne Smith, Housatonic Community College CEO.

HCC’s program began humbly with approximately 20 donated machines from other college programs and local manufacturing companies. Six professors, all former industry workers, taught a single cohort of 20 students of varying ages. In those early days of the program, students were mainly taught theory in a classroom.

A decade later, HCC’s program has doubled the number of machines in its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center, doubled the number of professors, offers up to three cohorts per academic year, and chiefly provides students with in-demand hands-on and high-tech learning experiences. In the past ten years, the program has graduated over 300 students, and today there is an over 90% job placement rate.

In 2015, the college instituted the College Connections program at HCC. Three years later, the program expanded, opening a new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Derby High School and introduced the College Connections Program there.

The College Connections program not only provides students with an introduction to the advanced manufacturing skillset, it also offers college credits at HCC. Students from Derby, Bridgeport, and Stratford High Schools have enrolled in the program, and most will be career ready before they reach age 20. Adult continuing education courses are also offered.

These opportunities provide a path to growth-oriented careers in fields such as Aerospace, Submarines, Biomedical Technology, Microchip, Laser, and Optical, and help to fill manufacturing positions in the over 4,400 advanced manufacturing companies calling Connecticut home.

Funds raised at the anniversary event will support the Housatonic Community College Foundation’s new Equity in Manufacturing Initiative, dedicated to ensuring low-income females and students of color have access and support in this valuable training program. High-profile sponsorship opportunities are available for the event, which will attract over 200 representatives from manufacturing companies and other businesses, organizations and individuals that support the manufacturing industry, elected officials, current and former HCC manufacturing students, college leadership, faculty and staff.

To purchase tickets to the event, or to become a sponsor, please visit https://housatonic.edu/amtc10 or contact HCC Foundation Executive Director Kristy Jelenik at, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Housatonic Community College Foundation would like to thank the following event sponsors to date: Bead Industries, Bannow Larson Foundation, FuelCell Energy, Holo-Crome, Moore Tool, and Alliance for Community Empowerment.