JOE MITCHELL
WESTFIELD—City advancement officer Joe Mitchell and others traveled to Connecticut yesterday, to help build a connection between new, state-of-the-art technology and precision manufacturing in the city.
Mitchell, along with members of two Westfield-based precision manufacturers and others, toured the facilities of the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) in East Hartford. The Center provides businesses and people a chance to see what new technologies are out there, as well as expose them to the potential it provides for companies.
“My goal was to make sure that the manufacturers in Westfield are aware of this fantastic resource just 45 minutes down the road,” Mitchell said of his attendance. “Also that they are aware of the financing and funding opportunities here in Westfield.”
According to Wayne M. Sumple, Manager of the Advanced Manufacturing Center at CCAT, the organization is a nonprofit group who showcases technology.
Wayne Sumple guides a tour through some of the precision manufacturing technology at Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology yesterday
“Our role is to demonstrate new technology for manufacturers around the world,” he said. “Anytime you can keep manufacturers up-to-date with new technologies it’s a good thing for maintaining jobs, well-paying jobs.”
Mitchell lauded the group, saying, “They are extremely helpful, they want to find solutions to keep precision manufacturing in the Pioneer Valley.”
Sumple said that CCAT is also one of four technology centers in the area, as designated by MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth’s “economic development and finance agency,” according to the MassDevelopment website.
“They help these small shops stay up with the latest things,” Mitchell said of MassDevelopment. “They help finance getting people trained.”
Among the financial assistance they provide includes covering 75 percent of the cost of training on precision machines up to $100,000 for businesses, according to Mitchell.
