Officials broke ground today at the Cohen SoundWaters Harbor Center in Stamford.

Gov. Ned Lamont joined local officials at John J. Boccuzzi Park to break ground on the new center that will give teens and young adults the skills they need to enter the maritime industry in Connecticut.

The center will be the base for three core programs. Young Mariners instills life skills and energizes young students through sailing, academics and a sense of community. Harbor Corps provides hands-on maritime job skills training for young adults. Research Intensive offers college-level marine research opportunities for high school students.

The nonprofit SoundWaters has been educating students for 30 years.

SoundWaters has been teaching students across the state ecology at its building at Cove Island Park primarily during field trips and for kindergarten through eighth grade students.

This new building will house high school students and high school graduates who are looking to enter the maritime industry.

It will also provide access to their programs to all students regardless of their socioeconomic status.

The building is being paid for through federal, state and local funding as well donations from the public.

Construction should be completed a year from now.