(DES MOINES) – Today, Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend are highlighting events that have been planned throughout Iowa to celebrate Manufacturing Day on Friday, Oct. 7.
“Manufacturing Day is a day to celebrate and promote the jobs that men and women do that provide roughly 15% of our state’s employment and almost 88% of our exports,” said Branstad. “I’m pleased to be able to highlight and support events around the state that are meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers.”
Lt. Gov. Reynolds said, “Manufacturing jobs today are not your grandparents’ factory jobs. Manufacturing Day is aiming to change the perception of working in a dark, dirty, dingy plant. These jobs are focused on robotics, technology and almost always require STEM education. This national event includes activities throughout Iowa and I want to encourage Iowans to take advantage to see what a rewarding career in manufacturing would look like.”
Manufacturing jobs today are highly technical skilled positions using robotics, automated machinery and screen technologies. The Manufacturing Institute estimates that over the next decade, 3.4 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled. But because of a shortage of skilled workers, two million of those jobs will go unfilled.
Manufacturing remains an important contributor to Iowa’s economy. Iowa has also identified a skills gap to fill manufacturing jobs as baby boomers retire and companies expand. To help solve this problem, Iowa Workforce Development Director Beth Townsend said the State of Iowa has several key initiatives in place including Future Ready Iowa, apprenticeships and Home Base Iowa.
“Manufacturing jobs today require training and advanced skills,” Townsend said. “The goal of Future Ready Iowa is that by 2025, 70 percent of Iowa’s workforce will have education or training beyond high school. Future Ready Iowa supports the training that is needed for today’s advanced manufacturing jobs.
“Likewise, registered apprenticeships are critical for filling the skills gap in Iowa. Iowa is working hard to expand its registered apprenticeship programs and has seen a 21 percent growth rate in 2014 and a 32 percent increase in 2015. We’re now focused on attracting more minorities to pursue apprenticeship careers, including women, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and refugees as well as individuals with disabilities.”
Veterans are also a key link to closing the skills gap in Iowa. “Home Base Iowa is Iowa’s award-winning program helping veterans get jobs in Iowa,” Townsend said. “Veterans are ideal candidates for many manufacturing jobs because of the skills they learned while serving in the military, as well as their strong work ethic.”
Manufacturing Day is designed to showcase what manufacturing is today and to change the misperception that manufacturing jobs are for low skilled workers. Consider these facts:
- Manufacturing is technologically advanced, with ample use of automation, 3-D printing, robots and screen technology
- The annual average salary of manufacturing workers is more than $77,000
- Manufacturers have the highest job tenure in the private sector
- 90 percent of manufacturing workers have medical benefits
Iowa Workforce Development has collaborated with community colleges and companies to help coordinate and promote Manufacturing Day events across Iowa.
All events are on Friday, Oct. 7, the official national Manufacturing Day, unless noted.
Atlantic
Event: MAHLE Engine Components Tours
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016
Time: 9:00am – 1:30pm
Location: MAHLE Engine Components, 60428 Marne Road, Atlantic
Details:
Contact: Council Bluffs IowaWORKS office at (712) 352-3480
Burlington
Event: Manufacturers Appreciation Luncheon with guest speaker Hall of Fame broadcaster Ray Cole; hosted by Advanced Manufacturing Sector Board
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex, 3001 Winegard Dr., Burlington
Details: IowaWORKS staff from the Burlington office will staff two booths to highlight One-Stop system services including apprenticeships, career pathways, veteran services and connections to skilled workers.
RSVP: Burlington Chamber of Commerce members receive four complimentary lunches. RSVP by emailing Belinda Colwell by Sept. 26 at bcolwell@greaterburlington.com
Cedar Rapids
Event: Advancing the Future: A Tour of Corridor Manufacturers
Dates: Oct. 17-21, 2016
Details: Manufacturers in Iowa's Creative Corridor will open their doors to help the public understand what's created here in our own backyard. Learn more about what they do, what jobs might be possible for you or someone you know, and be proud of the cool things local employers create. Participating manufacturers include: ACH Foam Technologies, American Profol, Bazooka Farmstar, Centro, Clickstop, Climate Engineers, Engineered Building Design, EPC, Highway Equipment Company, Midwest Metal Products, MSI Mold Builders, Newell Machinery, Pickwick Manufacturing, PMX Industries, Inc. and TSF Structures.
Tour Schedule: Go to www.kirkwood.edu/
Contact: Erica Bergfeld-Reed at (319) 398-5888 or at Erica.Bergfeld-Reed@kirkwood.
Creston
Event: Southwest Community College (SWCC) Career and Technical Education Day (CTE)/Manufacturing Day
Date: Friday, Oct. 14, 2016
Time: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Location: SWCC Creston Campus, 1501 W. Townline St., Creston
Details: Learn about various careers available through SWCC. Tour a local manufacturing facility. Register at http://www.swcciowa.edu/
Contact: Creston IowaWORKS office at (641) 782-2119
Davenport
Event: Manufacturing Pre-Skills Boot Camp
Date: Oct. 24-28, 2016
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Blong Technology Center, 8500 Hillandale Road, Davenport
Details: This free one-week workshop is designed to teach participants more about manufacturing and to prepare participants for a career in manufacturing. Participants can earn three certificates: 10-hour OSHA certificate; National Career Readiness certificate; and Manufacturing Pre-Skills Boot Camp certificate
Contact: To register, call the Davenport IowaWORKS office at (563) 445-3200
Des Moines
Event: Manufacturing Day
Time: 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Location: DMACC Southridge Center for Career & Professional Development, Room 20, 1111 E. Army Post Rd., Des Moines
Details: 9-9:30 a.m. Registration / Check-In
9:30-10 a.m. Welcome
10-10:30 a.m. DMACC Programs Overview
10:30-11 a.m. Tour Welding Lab and Other Programs at Southridge
11 a.m.-Noon Panel Presentations (Current Students, Alumni, Faculty, Employers)
Noon-12:15 p.m. Closing Remarks / Door Prizes
Contact: Des Moines IowaWORKS office at (515) 281-9619
Fort Dodge
Event: Welding Simulator, Apprenticeships and Manufacturing Job Fair
Time: October 7th: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Fort Dodge IowaWORKS office, 3 Triton Circle
Details: Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) is bringing its welding simulator to the Fort Dodge IowaWORKS office. There also will be information regarding manufacturing-related courses at ICCC and apprenticeships. A Manufacturing Job Fair will feature area manufacturers who are hiring with the first hour of the job fair reserved for veterans.
Contact: Fort Dodge IowaWORKS office at (515) 576-3131
Marshalltown
Event: High School Career Expo and Open House with Area Manufacturers
Date: October 4th, 2017
Time: 11 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (This is an all-day event and IowaWorks Marshalltown is a breakout session on the agenda during this time.)
Location: Marshalltown Community College, 3700 South Center St.
Details: High school juniors and seniors are invited to a career expo and open house with area manufacturers. The Marshalltown IowaWORKS office will share information about their services.
Contact: Marshalltown IowaWORKS office at (641) 754-1400
Maquoketa
Event: Career Fair for Husco International
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Maquoketa Community College Center, 50 W. Washington St., Maquoketa
Details: Husco International in Maquoketa is hiring 20 assemblers and five material handlers, one of the largest hiring events in Jackson County in recent years. Husco is an advanced manufacturer that makes hydraulic control valves, electronics and cartridge valves for the automotive, agricultural and construction industries. The Manufacturing Pre-Skills Boot Camp in Davenport will be promoted.
Contact: Davenport IowaWORKS office at (563) 445-3200
Ottumwa
Event: Southeast Iowa Manufacturing Tours
Date: October 7th, 2016
Time: 9:00 a.m. (at each of the manufacturing facilities)
Location: Various manufacturers located in the 10-county service area of the Ottumwa IowaWORKS office and Indian Hills Community College
Details: School districts in southeast Iowa have been invited to take tours at the following manufacturers: Al-jon in Ottumwa; Hillphoenix in Keosauqua; Agri-Industrial Plastics in Fairfield; Relco Locomotives in Albia; Myusco Lighting in Oskaloosa; C&C Machining in Centerville; M3 Fabrication in Bloomfield; Johnson Machine Works in Chariton; East Penn in Corydon; and Ray-Man in Keota.
Contact: Ottumwa IowaWORKS office at (641) 684-5401
Red Oak
Event: Red Oak Manufacturers Group Lunch and Learn
Date: October 6th, 2016
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Red Oak Chamber, 307 E. Reed Street, Red Oak, IA 51566
Details: IowaWORKS Creston is partnering with the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association to promote apprenticeships and on-the-job training to manufacturing professionals.
Contact: Creston IowaWORKS office at (641)782-2119
Spencer
Event: Country Maid Open House
Time: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Manufacturing Day) and 4-7 p.m. (Open House)
Location: Country Maid, 213 4th Ave. NE, West Bend
Details: Country Maid, manufacturer of braided breads, is undergoing a major expansion. In celebration of its growth and 25 years in business, Country Maid is celebrating Manufacturing Day and hosting an open house.
Contact: Spencer IowaWORKS office at (712) 262-1971
Waterloo
Event: Manufacturing Business Tours for High School Students
Dates: Oct. 3-7, 2016
Location: Various manufacturers in the Waterloo area
Details: The Waterloo IowaWORKS office is partnering with Hawkeye Community College to coordinate tours for high school students of area manufacturing facilities.
Contact: Waterloo IowaWORKS office at (310) 235-2123
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