With the success of a pilot program of technical training for careers that can provide a good living for some of the 50 percent of students who do not plan to go to college, the Barry County Commission’s committee of the whole Tuesday recommended approving $15,000 to support and expand the effort.
Travis Alden, executive director of Barry County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) and Mike Schneiderhan, BCEDA Workforce Development coordinator, explained the process that provides training for vocations that provide worthwhile careers for future graduates and a viable, stable workforce for area manufacturers.
Nine students completed last year’s pilot program, learning the foundation, technical and hands-on work, and how to apply it to real life. They had mock interviews for practice before formal interviews by representatives of local manufacturers. All nine were offered positions, some with numerous offers, by local businesses, Schneiderhan said.
“Eight of the nine are gainfully employed at about $15 an hour in entry level positions.” Three are going on with training for more technical skills, he said.
The next step is to obtain dual enrollment in area schools, to make the training cost free. In the pilot program, the Barry Community Foundation paid the $2,000 per student charge.
Schneiderhan said they would like to recruit 15 to 18 students for the program this year, and laughed when asked what he would do if 50 applied. “I’d love to have that problem,” he said, adding they would solve it.
Scheduling is a problem he acknowledged but, “if students can start training in duel enrollment in January, in June they can go to work. It’s a great benefit for these kids.”
They would like to start programs earlier than the senior year, so students can select courses they will need to follow a path, instead of catching up later.
Their main challenge is that with the strong mindset that graduating students go to college, technical skills training has been neglected, the two agree. Changing that mentality will be a long, slow process, Schneiderhan said, and will need teachers, parents and grandparents to help change the perception.
They will focus on all areas, like plumbing, carpentry and electrical work, not just manufacturing, so students, adults, parents and teachers will realize, “that there are other viable options (other than college) to make a good living and enjoy a productive life.”
The result of the program is a trained and available workforce that will encourage growth and retention in area businesses. The students also learn “soft skills,” getting to work on time, producing and getting along with coworkers.
The recommended funding will support the expansion of the Kellogg Advanced Manufacturing Assembly (KAMA) program, starting new apprenticeship programs with local manufacturing firms, identifying and recruiting Barry County students into in-school and other CTE programs, and career exposure initiatives with career tours, career expo and more.
The KCC training to become a Certified Production Technician starts with fundamental courses promoting a base of skills required for entry level positions, moves on to technical courses that teach learning and applying of relevant industry knowledge.
Next, the certified production technician courses teaching mastery of the core competencies of manufacturing.
The final course, industry recognized certification and assessments, results in high quality credentials that are accepted by manufacturing employers, as endorsed by a nationally recognized association.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the recommendation at its Oct. 24 meeting.
