SME convenes college presidents, state manufacturing associations on MI-WPC

SME recently met with presidents from each of the educational institutions participating in the Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) to discuss the strengths and challenges in filling the industry’s workforce shortage and skills gap crisis.

Launched in fall 2023, the MI-WPC is a three-year pilot program with a goal to attract 1,000 individuals at each of the initial participating community and technical colleges annually, resulting in 75,000 or more qualified workers in pursuit of manufacturing careers. The economic impact of growing the industry’s workforce is an estimated $6 billion.

“Through this collaboration, the initiative is building awareness of careers in manufacturing, optimizing workforce systems, and accelerating the education and skill development needed to place individuals in jobs making family-sustaining wages,” said Jeannine Kunz, chief workforce development officer, SME.

SME selected 25 initial pilot institutions and plans to expand this initiative to other educational institutions throughout the U.S.:

• Calhoun Community College
• College of Lake County
• Columbus State Community College
• Dallas College (Cedar Valley campus and Eastfield campus)
• Edmonds College
• Grand Rapids Community College
• Greenville Technical College
• Lorain County Community College
• Motlow State Community College
• Patrick & Henry Community College
• Pellissippi State Community College
• Richard J. Daley College
• Schoolcraft College
• South Central College
• St. Charles Community College
• St. Louis Community College
• Tulsa Community College
• Wake Technical Community College
• Wallace State Community College
• Wilbur Wright College
• WSU Tech