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For more information, contact Bill Griffin at 203-332-5056, wgriffin@hcc.commnet.edu

HCC AWARDED CONTRACT FOR FOUR TRAINING PROGRAMS

BRIDGEPORT – Housatonic Community College has been awarded a $112,500 contract to provide training for four government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

The award, which was made by the Workplace, Inc. with funds provided by UBS Warburg, will be used to develop and implement training programs for the Town of Stratford, the Bridgeport Housing Authority, the Regional Network and the Bridgeport Library. Stratford and the Bridgeport Housing Authority will receive supervisory training programs while The Regional Network and the Bridgeport Library will receive computer-training programs.

“These programs are just one more way the college is working to provide needed services to the various constituencies in our service area,” said William Griffin, HCC’s director of business and industry services. “These courses are designed to help each of the agencies enhance the skills of their staff at a time when operating efficiencies are critical in both government and private industries.”

Offering this type of training is just one way Housatonic provides services to the business community while contributing to the economic vitality of the region. According to an economic impact study completed a year ago, HCC contributes $60 million per year to the region’s economy, the equivalent of 1,400 jobs, while, by bringing more than 5,000 people to the downtown at least twice a week, serving as a catalyst for downtown revival.

In addition, HCC has played a pivotal role with other partners and the WorkPlace in bringing more than $2 million in grants to area businesses, especially metal manufacturers. The bulk of the funds were used to create the Metal Manufacturers Education and Training Alliance (METAL), a consortium of metal manufacturers who are pooling their resources to restore competitiveness to that industry.

HCC is able to offer these services and serve record numbers of degree-seeking students while putting more money back onto the state treasury each year than it takes out.

Thanks to the WorkPlace grant, Griffin said, Bridgeport Housing Authority will be able to complete a series of modules that are part of an overall managerial and supervisory training program begun earlier. The training had been put on hold because of budget limitations. Directors will receive training in managing managers, and building high performance teams for managers. Front-line supervisors will receive supervisory training in proactive leadership and building high performance teams, he said. The supervisory program has been nationally recognized.

The Town of Stratford, he said, will receive supervisory training for all levels of managers in town government. Directors will receive training in managing managers, and building high performance teams for managers. Mid-level managers and front-line supervisors will receive supervisory training in managing people, leadership skills, and managing for results, he said.

The Bridgeport Library, he said, will receive computer training in Windows Networking, and Windows 2000. Additional programs will include training in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Outlook, Computer Trouble Shooting, and Dreamweaver.

The Regional Network will receive computer training in an introduction to computers, Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and Access along with programming training in Visual Basic.

With a six-year old campus in the heart of Connecticut’s largest city, Housatonic is one of the country’s fastest-growing public community colleges. Since it moved to the new downtown campus in 1997, Housatonic’s enrollment has increased 70 percent. According to the most recent statistics, released by the Washington D.C- based American Association of Community Colleges, Housatonic was the Northeast’s fastest-growing community college in the 1,000-plus students category.

In response to increased enrollments and changing workplace needs both regionally and nationally, Housatonic has increased the number of programs offered from 43 to 63 since moving to its new campus.