Building Connecticut’s Manufacturing Future: A Bold Strategy for Innovation, Talent, and Growth - Episode 95

In this Made in America podcast episode, host Ari Santiago welcomes back Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer*, Paul Lavoie, for his fourth appearance and a deep dive into the newly updated statewide manufacturing strategic plan. The conversation unpacks the Office of Manufacturing’s clear focus on four pillars—developing talent, building sustainable companies, driving innovation, and improving collaboration—all in service of two bold goals: doubling manufacturing’s share of state GDP to 20% by 2030, and achieving full employment within the sector.

Lavoie candidly addresses the visibility gap still present across Connecticut’s 4,800 manufacturers and explains the state's evolving role—not to dictate solutions, but to enable, coordinate, and amplify existing efforts across the ecosystem. He outlines practical initiatives, such as the CONNEX Marketplace, workforce pipeline development from “K to Gray,” and sector-specific collaboration efforts that include strategic partnerships with NASA, Airbus, and major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss:

• Four Strategic Focus Areas: Talent development, sustainable business growth, innovation, and sector-wide collaboration.
• Two Ambitious Goals: Reach 20% of Connecticut’s GDP from manufacturing and achieve full employment in the sector by 2030.
• Innovation Engine: Focus on digital transformation, additive manufacturing, automation, and AI—especially through CT’s CCAT and a potential AI manufacturing institute.
• Workforce Pipeline: Campaigns like “I Got It Made” and efforts to meet the next generation where they are, paired with a push for more “workforce housing.”
• Public-Private Partnership Model: Lavoie emphasizes building long-term capacity in the nonprofit sector over expanding government bureaucracy. 

This episode is both a candid assessment of current challenges and an energizing vision for how Connecticut can lead the country in advanced manufacturing. 

* At the time of this podcast recording and podcast publication, Paul Lavoie continues to be CT's Chief Manufacturing Officer. Paul has accepted a position at the University of New Haven starting in July 2025. For any questions on the plan after Paul leaves this position, please direct requests to the CT Office of Manufacturing. 

CT Office of Manufacturing: https://manufacturing.ct.gov/?language=en_US

CONNEX Marketplace: https://manufacturing.ct.gov/connex?language=en_US

Paul Lavoie - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulslavoie/

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