U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta saw first-hand programs in Connecticut that are pairing nearly 1,300 students with local manufacturers.

Acosta visited Electric Boat in Groton Tuesday along with U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal.

They witnessed the training that the students are receiving, and how it's helping them.

Sen. Blumenthal said the training is about investment in jobs that are vital to economic progress in Connecticut as well as the rest of the country.

The Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative has received roughly $6,000,000 from the federal government.