Substitute Senate Bill No. 1179 seeks to create the Connecticut Community Makerspace Initiative Program, which will provide financial assistance to entities aiming to establish or expand makerspaces within the state. A makerspace is defined as a community facility that offers access to tools, technology, and educational resources for entrepreneurs, enabling the prototyping and production of goods while promoting personal growth and workforce training. The bill requires the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development to implement a pilot program by January 1, 2026, with a funding cap of $5 million and a maximum of $250,000 available to any single applicant per fiscal year.

To support this initiative, the bill mandates the Manufacturing Innovation Advisory Board to allocate $1 million from the Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund for the program. It also outlines new eligibility criteria and application processes for the pilot program, requiring applicants to submit detailed proposals, including the description of the makerspace and the requested financial assistance. Recipients must report their progress to the Department of Economic and Community Development within two years of receiving funds, and starting January 1, 2027, the Commissioner must provide an annual evaluation of the program's effectiveness to the Commerce Committee. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 32-7o