• The American Manufacturing Hall of Fame (AMHoF) is a committee of passionate volunteers who have come together as advocates for manufacturing and manufacturing training opportunities. At present, the Hall of Fame exists under the auspices of Tunxis Community College Foundation & partners with College of Technology (COT).
• Established in 2014 at Housatonic Community College ("HCC"), and through a six-year partnership with the Housatonic Community College Foundation, the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame celebrated manufacturers from both the greater Bridgeport area and the surrounding area, and raised scholarship funding that supported hundreds of HCC students pursuing careers in the manufacturing sector. This early partnership created a successful model to support a growing pipeline of skilled manufacturing workers, and in 2021 resulted in the geographic expansion beyond the Greater Bridgeport region.
• In 2023, AMHoF expanded statewide with the continual goal of National recognition.
• The AMHoF Induction Ceremony has raised over $500,000. The graduates of the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers earn a starting salary between $40,000 and $60,000 per year plus benefits.
• The AMHoF has provided over $300,000 for scholarships and educational programs for students. The funds have largely come from 24 corporate sponsors, led by CLA, our Founding Sponsor. The Induction Ceremonies have attracted important industry stakeholders including manufacturers, manufacturing advocates, government leadership and key influencers to the sector.
• In addition to raising funds, AMHoF highlights the importance of manufacturing and the critical role Advanced Manufacturing Technology graduates play in replacing a retiring workforce.
• The AMHoF has hosted Induction Ceremonies in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 (due to the Pandemic there were no Induction Ceremonies 2020-2022. A total of 29 Connecticut-based companies including Bridgeport Machines, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Bridgeport Brass, A.C. Gilbert, R.C. Bigelow, Inc., Stanley Black & Decker, Pratt & Whitney, have been inducted for their important contributions to innovation in manufacturing.
• Added more robust leadership to the Steering Committee.
• Through its partnership with the Connecticut College of Technology (COT) and its National Science Foundation funded Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing (RCNGM), the AMHoF will be able to expand statewide.
• All 12 CT public community colleges and 10 public and private four-year universities make up the COT, which provides engineering and technology curriculum development and oversight, transfer articulation agreements, and manufacturing industry partnerships local to each campus that will be beneficial to the overall goals and objectives of the AMHoF.