TwinWest Workforce Ready! Collaborative
Finding solutions to help precision manufacturers attract and retain skilled workers is the focus of a new initiative of the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce in partnership with MPMA and others. Partially funded through a FIRST grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the “TwinWest Workforce Ready! Collaborative” is focused on five main strategies and is working closely with MPMA on several initiatives. Input and participation from precision manufacturers is needed to help ensure that the collaborative effort is successful in addressing the workforce gaps facing the industry. Among the key strategies being developed are:
Employer Resources: Addressing the disconnect between precision manufacturers and existing educational/training resources available to help them recruit, train and retain a productive workforce.
Incumbent Worker Training: Exploring new or enhanced strategies to provide training to the incumbent workforce of precision manufacturers specifically focused on identifying common training needs that could be filled by existing resources.
Marketing/Branding of Industry: Working with MPMA and others on public relations/marketing initiatives to enhance the perception of the availability, quality, challenge and appeal of careers in manufacturing.
Expand the Pipeline of New Precision Manufacturing Workers: Working with K-12 Schools to develop partnerships that showcase careers in manufacturing, expand skills training provided in schools, and directing TwinWest scholarship funds to students interested in careers in manufacturing.
Skills Training: Evaluating whether gaps exist between skills needed by precision manufacturers and skills training available through public or private training resources.
The Workforce Ready! Initiative is focused in 19 communities in the western metropolitan area, though strategies and solutions will be made available to other interested organizations and precision manufacturers.
To learn more, click here.
MPMA Workforce Initiatives
MPMA is working to expand the available workforce through initiatives aimed at attracting new people into the field of manufacturing, supporting them with scholarships and programs once enrolled in school and also encouraging our retired employees to serve as mentors for those new to the field. By focusing our efforts in diverse areas, we are reaching out and spreading the word about the benefits of entering and being a part of the manufacturing industry. MPMA supports and is affiliated with these initiatives:
Grand View Conference and Grand View Summit – Each spring, manufacturers and educators come together for one reason: to get a "grand view" of technical education and workforce development in Minnesota. Learn best practices for recruiting new students and workers into the manufacturing industry.
Midwest Robotics League – The MRL is a robot combat league that was formed by the MPMA to give students a chance to use their math, science and technology skills. By building robots and competing against other students and schools, they are exposed to these fields in a fun and challenging way.
Minnesota Supermileage Challenge – The Challenge takes students with a variety of technology education experiences, as well as core curriculum backgrounds and then forms teams whose purpose it is to design, fabricate and test one-person vehicles capable of achieving ultra high miles per gallon ratings.
Solar Boat Regatta – This is an opportunity for middle and high school students (as well as individual boat builders) to build a boat that runs on solar power. They compete in a number of races, culminating with a one-hour endurance race.
SkillsUSA Minnesota – SkillsUSA Minnesota creates opportunities for students, educators and business. This is accomplished through leadership training, volunteerism opportunities, competitions and conferences, which enhance students' self-worth and employability skills to create a seamless transition into the workforce.
US First Robotics Competition – This competition challenges teams of young people and their mentors to solve a common problem in a six-week timeframe using a standard "kit of parts" and a common set of rules. Teams build robots from the parts and enter them in competitions.
Washington County Robotics Program – Robotics Academy is an engaging learning experience that involves students in teams working together to build robots. The students configure systems, test and refine their robots and program them for task oriented competition.
Project Lead the Way – This hands-on project and real world problem based program is all about teaching, learning and adding rigor to traditional technical programs and relevance to traditional academics. The students learn to understand how the skills they are learning in the classroom can be applied to everyday life.
M-Powered – This consortium of community champions, industry leaders and training partners, strategically collaborate to create fast-track training solutions for low income populations and incumbent workers to build a globally competitive workforce in the Minnesota Manufacturing industry. M-Powered provides workers with an opportunity to learn and earn.
