Program trains skilled workforce for manufacturing in a world market

Northern Nevada Development Authority is bringing President Obama's Dream It Do It Initiative to the Silver State.

Working with The Manufacturing Institute and the National Association of Manufacturers, the NNDA will take key steps to implement the Manufacturing Skills Certification System. The goal is to build the educated and skilled workforce that U.S. manufacturers need to successfully compete in the 21st century economy.

The certification system, backed by the president, is a plan by association's Manufacturing Institute to certify 500,000 community college students across the country with skills that are critical to manufacturing operations. It will provide nationally portable certification through competency-based education and training.

"We see Dream It Do It as an amazing opportunity to fuse relationship and partnerships across the state supporting manufacturing, education and Gov. Sandoval's 'One State Initiative'," Rob Hooper, NNDA's executive director, said in a written statement.

To implement the program, the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, community college's throughout the state, and several county school districts, will work with Pam Borda, executive director for the Elko County Economic Diversification Authority, Eric Grimes, executive director for the Churchill Economic Development Authority, and a host of other dedicated officials from counties all over Nevada.

NNDA has already made giant steps in creation of the Dream It Do It program. An extensive asset map is already in place, statewide relationships have been formed, deadlines and milestones have been posted, an executive team created and accountability for deliverables promoted.

Included in the plan is changing the image of manufacturing, which has caused students and even those looking to change careers to look toward other fields. To change that image, Dream It Do It Nevada is promoting manufacturing in a new light, showing that it pays well, that it has wide potential for promotion and is an open field of possibilities. At the same time, the program provides Nevada workers with the credentials required to find good jobs in the advanced manufacturing sector.

"To succeed as a U.S. manufacturer in the 21st century, I must invest in programs that recruit talented individuals onto advanced manufacturing career pathways that provide the provable skill sets I need to grow my company and innovate for the future of the aerospace industry," said Collie L. Hutter, owner Click Bond, Inc.

Manufacturers are now producing more with less labor. Manufacturing is considerably more technical, utilizing more innovative technology and is constantly looking for the best and brightest. Today's workers are more highly trained than in generations past and the only way to make sure American businesses continue to grow is to create a collaborative and open environment between manufacturers and colleges and universities.

For more information about the Dream It Do It Nevada initiative or NNDA, contact Danny Campos at (775) 883-4413 or email dcampos@nnda.org.