Three-year grant supports Heroes MAKE America initiative

The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, has received a $2.25 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to support and expand the work of Heroes MAKE America, an MI initiative that builds connections and career paths between the military community and the manufacturing industry.

Heroes MAKE America’s signature training program arms participants with the skills and certifications needed to find and excel in manufacturing careers. Through in-person and remote training, Heroes directly works with and helps members of the greater military community transition to their next mission in manufacturing. The program is open to transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses.

The three-year grant will fund two key focus areas: virtual reality technology to support the greater military community regardless of physical location, and expansion of training pathways to broaden the skill sets supporting the workforce demands in modern manufacturing.