June 2019
during a press conference at
Starkweather Academy.
The program, Partnership
Response in Manufacturing
Education (PRIME®), was
developed by the SME Education
Foundation and, with MMA,
has developed a series of programs
in schools across Michigan since
2016. The manufacturers supporting
the Starkweather Academy
program include:
• Alpha USA
• Clips and Clamps Industries
• Link Engineering Company
• Loc Performance Products, Inc.
• Master Automatic Inc.
• Roush Industries, Inc.
• Skyway Precision Inc.
“Talent has become a primary
barrier to growth for manufacturing,
the largest sector of the Michigan
economy, and every day employers
struggle to solve the challenge of
recruiting talent and keeping them
in state,” said Mike Johnston, MMA
vice president of government
affairs. “This partnership of seven
manufacturers will build a talent
pipeline that meets their needs,
while creating career pathways for
students in their community.”
PRIME® builds a collaborative
network of students, educators and
industry professionals to provide
high school students with advanced
manufacturing career pathways,
inspiring and informing their
interest and awareness in manu-
facturing. The national program
provides students with practical
experience, knowledge and skills
using state-of-the-art technology
and equipment, while allowing
companies to support the career
direction of youth through
mentoring, internships and
job shadowing.
“The launch of this partnership
underscores our commitment to
preparing students for future careers
in manufacturing, an area which
is currently experiencing a talent
shortage,” said Monica L. Merritt,
superintendent of Plymouth-
Canton Community Schools.
“The support we’ve received from
our business community and local
leaders has been phenomenal, and
we are all encouraged by the
prospect of preparing our talented
students to thrive in our local
business communities.”
Since 2011, SME PRIME®
schools have reached more than
50,000 students in 46 communities
across 22 states. Last year, 84
percent of graduating SME
PRIME® students intended to
pursue careers in manufacturing,
and 60 percent of those students
planned to pursue postsecondary
education in a field directly related
to manufacturing.
“SME PRIME® schools are
central to our commitment to
inspiring, preparing and supporting
young people,” said Rob Luce,
SME Education Foundation vice
president. “We’re proud to now
include Starkweather Academy
students in the SME PRIME®
schools initiative as we continue
to expand the program across
the country.”
MiMfg Magazine
For more information on the
PRIME® program, reach out to
MMA’s communications team at
517-487-8533.
SBA MaTCH Program
Announces $1 Million in
New Talent Funding
In today’s booming economy,
employers are searching for qualified
workers to fill the increasing amount
of positions currently available.
That’s why the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) has
announced the Makerspace Training,
Collaboration and Hiring (MaTCH)
Pilot Competition which seeks to
address the job skills and placement
gaps faced by U.S. businesses.
MaTCH will provide funding
to create or expand programs with
job-specific and soft skills training
within existing makerspaces. The
SBA will award up to $1 million
in total prizes to fund selected
winning proposals. The submission
period began on 5/21/19 and ends
on 7/8/19. Winners will be
announced on August 6, 2019.
For more information, go
online to www.sba.gov/match.
6
Got Good News?
Share your company’s news with
MMA and see it published here,
through our social media channels
or on mimfg.org . Send your
photos, press releases and good
news to MMA’s Brett Gerrish
at [email protected].
Excitement filled the Plymouth-Canton community as the latest employer-driven PRIME® program
was announced, partnering seven local manufacturers in the effort to train next generation talent.
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