Connecticut State Community College Housatonic's new renovated advanced manufacturing technology center is preparing the next generation of students for the workforce.

The center offers a nine-month training program in advance manufacturing techniques.

The goal is for students to obtain jobs in the state's manufacturing industry.

Rep Jim Himes obtained nearly $1 million in federal funding to make the renovation possible, with some of the money used to purchase machines.

"These young people are learning skills, how to drive these incredibly advanced milling machines and essentially that is going to put them at jobs at places like ASML, Sikorsky, Electric Boat. So, what you see here is kids acquiring the skills that is going to allow them to succeed economically. I just talked to a young guy who is graduating in May who's going to have a job at one of these incredible companies. This is where it's happening for people, it's super exciting," he says.

Himes says he hopes students will begin to learn about robotics, because in the future they will perform the majority of work in manufacturing, but will need to be made, serviced and controlled.