Workforce Development

Workforce Development

To Date: The Grow North Workforce Sub-Committee has set up two main initiatives for 2019: expanding the awareness and implementation of Youth Apprenticeships region wide, and supporting FabLabs in the region. 

With an aging workforce and a skills gap in the current workforce it is imperative that we begin at an early age to engage students. Manufacturing today is quite a bit different than in days gone by.  By bringing students on tours of businesses we can show them how it is different and becoming more computerized.  One of our goals is to support and promote the use of FAB Labs in K-12 schools throughout the region.  Recently, 1st grade students at Three Lakes Elementary School were able to draw Christmas ornament on plain paper, then with teacher assistance they put the drawing into the computer program and then the 3D printer made the ornament for the 1st grader. The students were able to take the ornament they had designed home. That is what we call engaging our youth and our pipeline of future workforce. If you would like to encourage our youth and help foster our future workforce we are looking for people to assist our working committee with ideas and events, please contact us today!