Workforce development
The mission of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association is to continually identify and engage our membership in those activities that develop and support a fully-integrated precision manufacturing presence in Minnesota.
The mission of the Workforce Development Committee is to support industry through workforce enhancement.
The goals of the Workforce Development Committee are as follows:
1. Identify the educational needs of the industry.
2. Support current trends within the industry.
3. Increase awareness of job opportunities in the industry.
4. Connecting with industry peers.
All requests for funding must directly contribute to the overall goals of the MPMA and the Workforce Development Committee in order to be considered for funding.
Click here to download a funding request application.
Local 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.
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.
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