Six week program prepares manufacturing workers for workforce

By Kalea Hall | July 4, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Four local career centers have a free opportunity for those interested in a manufacturing career.

The free six-week Introduction to Manufacturing program will be offered at Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, Trumbull County Career & Technical Center, Columbiana County Career & Technical Center and Choffin Career & Technical Center.

“This gets [those interested in manufacturing] the entry-level skills, which is a $3,000 education, for free,” said Terry Hutson, assistant adult education director at CCCTC.

When students complete the program, they receive six manufacturing credentials including: WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate, OSHA-compliant 10-hour safety for general industry, and the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council Certified Production Technician credential.

Also, those who successfully complete the program will be able to interview with local manufacturing companies.

In the six weeks of the program, students receive guidance from a career coach, develop workplace skills, enter into a career pathway, gain basic skills for entry into advanced manufacturing training, and complete interviews with local manufacturers and receive feedback.

“It is a great resume builder,” Hutson said. “It’s always good to have more credentials and more knowledge.”

The Oh-Penn Manufacturing Collaborative, including the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition, are active in the program because of the need for workforce-ready employees.

“They can get a job right out of these classes or go into more advanced training,” said Jessica Borza, MVMC executive director. “They would be prepared to be successful.”

The program is funded through a few sources including the Oh-Penn Manufacturing Collaborative funds from a $6 million U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation Fund grant and the MVMC’s State of Ohio Industry Workforce Alliance Grant.

“We are serving a need because there is a skill gap,” said Mary Mihalopoulos, MCCTC career transition supervisor in adult education. “If anything, [the students] become aware of what the manufacturing career can offer them.”

Both the Mahoning and Trumbull county programs start July 13. For more information and to find out if any spots are left, call MCCTC at 330-729-4000 or TCTC at 330-847-0503.

Columbiana’s program starts July 28, and there are still spots open. For more information, call CCCTC at 330-424-9561.

Choffin’s program will begin in the fall.