Hartford Foundation Grant to Support ReadyCT's Workforce Development Initiatives

ReadyCT has received a $530,000 two-year grant from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, including $30,000 in contributions from donor-advised funds at the Foundation. ReadyCT's programming aligns with the Foundation’s priorities to address gaps in college and career programming in the region’s Alliance Districts which serve significant numbers of Black and Latine students, according to officials at the Foundation. 

“Forward looking investors like the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, who provide resources with trust and confidence in the work we do, are critical to creating opportunities for the students we serve,” said Shannon Marimon, executive director at ReadyCT. “This particular grant from the Hartford Foundation will support our general operations, enhancing program impact and allowing us to refine, scale and innovate in ways that support youth while also helping the region build a high-quality workforce right out of our area high schools.”

For more than a decade, ReadyCT has sought to bridge the public education system with workforce development, preparing students for successful futures through career-connected learning. The organization is focused on integrating career pathways and work-based learning opportunities within K-12 education, partnering with schools and industries in Greater Hartford and across Connecticut.

The organization has established business partnerships in Greater Hartford within the sectors that are integral to its program structure. These partnerships are critical to better aligning K-12 education and workforce systems. By connecting with high-demand fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and information technology, ReadyCT helps students build essential skills and earn industry-recognized credentials, promoting economic mobility and meeting local workforce needs.

Since taking on a single pathway themed on engineering and green technology at Hartford Public High School in 2019, ReadyCT has expanded to 18 pathways across 12 Greater Hartford area high schools in the 24-25 school year.

The organization has plans to grow to 27 pathways across the state, covering themes such as manufacturing, healthcare, computer science, business services, and public service. Ongoing programs in East Hartford and Hartford Public Schools focus on collaboration with superintendents, district staff, and principals to implement impactful career-connected programming. 

ReadyCT’s Career Pathways program engages students during school hours. The goal is to create a mutually rewarding school-business network – one where the business provides a continuum of work-based learning experiences, and the student provides value and work products to the business.

Through this Hartford Foundation grant, ReadyCT will continue to engage students across Greater Hartford in pathways such as Allied Health, Computer Science, Engineering, IT, Insurance, Journalism and Public Service. In addition to Career Pathways, the Foundation funding will support ReadyCT’s impact in Greater Hartford through additional programs including:

• The ReadyCT Internship Program provides income and meaningful career opportunities.

• Student 5.0 is a postsecondary planning program for high school seniors and recent graduates, including career readiness training and paid internships.

• G.R.I.T. (Get Ready! Immersive Traineeship) offers skills development for younger high school students through real-world projects with businesses like Travelers and Hartford HealthCare.

• F.R.Y.A. (First Responders Youth Academy) offers paid internships offering hands-on exposure to careers in law enforcement and firefighting.

In addition to this work, ReadyCT has become active in state-level policy efforts aimed at strengthening public school systems and career readiness. The organization holds an advisory role in the Governor’s Workforce Council, advocates for policy improvements in areas such as educator certification, and is a key contributor to initiatives like the Lt. Governor’s Computing Challenge and a statewide robotics initiative that brings FIRST Robotics and Vex resources to school districts across the state.

“The Hartford Foundation is pleased to continue supporting ReadyCT,’ said Hartford Foundation Community Impact Officer Johana Rendon Ledesma. “This work reflects the importance of programming and partnership with Alliance Districts to support educational equity and post-secondary success for young people across Greater Hartford.”