CCAI Finishing Education Foundation receives grant for summer finishing camps

The CCAI Finishing Education Foundation (CCAI FEF), Lakewood Ranch, Fla., has received a grant from the PPG Foundation to support its summer finishing camp initiative. In collaboration with Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs (NBT), the charitable foundation of Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA), Elgin, Ill., CCAI FEF has worked to bring industrial finishing to NBT’s highly successful summer manufacturing camp program.

Held at technical colleges and universities, the weeklong camps introduce students aged 11 to 17 to industrial finishing and the variety of career opportunities available. Camp directors follow a finishing-focused curriculum developed by CCAI FEF and the Chemical Coaters Association Intl. (CCAI). Each camp includes:

• An overview of many facets of finishing, including powder coating, liquid coating, electrocoating, pretreatment, curing, and masking.
• Videos and hands-on activities to provide additional explanation of curriculum concepts for increased comprehension.
• Plant tours where campers experience real-world finishing operations like part hanging, part cleaning, and powder coating.
• A color-themed project that introduces campers to another aspect of the finishing industry—color trends and theory.
• Guest speakers with diverse finishing experience who share their career journeys and engage campers in discussions about the industry and the opportunities it offers.

“Receipt of this generous grant from the PPG Foundation means we will be able to expand the program in year two, faster and more than expected,” said Sheila LaMothe, CCAI FEF executive director. “The grant will provide funding for start-up and operational expenses for three new camps beginning in 2024.”