EGCC welding, machining program gets grant

By Denise Dick

denise_dick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

A grant is helping Eastern Gateway Community College bolster its machining and welding programs to bring jobs to the Mahoning Valley.

EGCC President Jimmie Bruce announced the $10,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation at a news conference Friday.

The grant will help the college promote “some of the initiatives we’re trying to do to bring jobs to the Valley,” Bruce said.

Haas, of California, who was born in Youngstown, started his own company, Pro-turn Engineering, in 1978 and in 1983 developed Haas Automation. Haas’ goal through the foundation is to introduce students to careers in machining technology and manufacturing.

EGCC is offering classes in the welding lab at Choffin Career and Technical Center. EGCC’s own welding facility as well as its machining facility will open inside Choffin for fall 2016 classes.

Bruce said EGCC is working with the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition and Youngstown State University to recruit more students into machining and welding careers and address industry needs.

“EGCC understands the importance of helping to fill the skill gap related to energy and engineering, including oil and gas extraction,” Bruce said.

Chris Tsiros of Haas Factory Outlet-Midwest, Twinsburg, helped facilitate the grant to the college.

“We’re excited and hope it’s a long-term relationship” between EGCC and the Haas Foundation.

He called the skills gap for machinists tremendous.

“Companies joke, ‘We have everything here but a machinist,’” Tsiros said. “We’re excited about your program and being part of it.”

Ryan Pasco, EGCC’s director of energy and engineering initiatives, said the college’s welding and machining classes will incorporate some high-tech equipment including a plasma laser cutter.

EGCC is working with the MVMC and representatives of industrial companies to develop the curriculum, he said. That will help ensure the program provides graduates with the skills needed in the industry.

Aside from an associate’s degree in machining, EGCC graduates in that program also earn 11 industry-specific certificates, Pasco said.

Bruce also announced that in mid-March, some EGCC administrative offices and student support services will relocate from the 10th floor of the Chase Bank building to 139 Boardman St., across the street from the Valley Center.

It’s the former location of the United Methodist Community Center.