President Barack Obama made a stop at Macomb Community College in Warren, Mich., today, to announce $175 million in federal public-private partnership grants for apprenticeship training that meets local needs. A considerable chunk of that funding is tied to the advanced manufacturing sector, from $2.2 million for a community-college-run consortium updating the skills of Telsa Motors and Panasonic workers to $4 million to train mechatronics and industrial maintenance technicians and CNC Operators in Pennsylvania.
The American Apprenticeship Grants, administered through the Department of Labor, were awarded to 46 partnerships between employers, organized labor, non-profits, local governments and educational institutions.
Among the grantees:
$5 million to Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, CA “to establish an apprenticeship model in Northern, Calif., where none currently exists” and improve advanced manufacturing coursework at the college. Partners include Siemens USA and TriTool.
$5 million to the UAW-Labor Employment and Training Corp.in Cerritos, CA to fund a UAW apprenticeship initiative to train 500 job seekers and 975 current workers in advanced manufacturing jobs.
$3.9 million to Macomb Community College for 600 IT and manufacturing apprenticeships, including a new apprenticeship in digital sculpting for the autonomotive industry. Partners include Atlas Tool, Formtech, and Autocam Precision Components Group.
$10 million to the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board for a cross-section of apprenticeships, manufacturing among them. Partners include General Motors and Emerson.
$4.9 to Marshall University Research Corp. in Huntington, WV, to fund the National Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program, expanding apprenticeship opportunities for women, transitioning military personnel, and disadvantaged youth.
