Dream It Do It, a collaboration between the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, Jamestown Community College and the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, has now received more than $100,000 in private contributions.
MAST is committing $25,000 to the program this year and has committed another $50,000 for next year. In addition, several manufacturers throughout the county have contributed as well. Within the last 90 days Cummins, Cliffstar, Truck-Lite, Excelco, Nestle Purina, Heidenhain, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Dawson Metal, RHI Monofrax, Serta Mattress, Crawford Furniture, Spartan Tool, Rand Tool, Jamestown Electroplating, Hopes Windows, Weber Knapp, CMFS, Hanson Sign, Dahlstrom Rollform, Artone Manufacturing, Fancher Chair, Matco Tool, Ulrich Planfiling, Phoenix Metal and Carriage House Companies have all made financial commitments.
"Dream It Do It is yet another example of how a private-public-educational partnership can be successful," said Todd Tranum, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer and Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and the Manufacturing Technology Institute executive director. "Working together we are getting positive results."
Dream It Do It officially launched last October. The event had over 630 students visit the Physical Education facility at Jamestown Community College where they had the opportunity to meet with 29 local manufacturers. At this event young adults learned about products manufactured in Chautauqua County, the types of jobs available and the skills these companies are seeking when they fill job positions.
"We know there is a tidal wave coming with the retirement of the Baby Boomers and we need to move methodically and aggressively to encourage people to enter a career in advanced manufacturing," stated John Zabrodsky, Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier president. "Manufacturing is the backbone of the regional economy and we need a skilled workforce to sustain this important economic engine. There are great job opportunities throughout the region in advanced manufacturing and there will be for a long time. Manufacturers are taking action to advance this message and we are stepping up to financially support this recruitment effort."
In the spring of 2010, Lean Manufacturing events were run in schools throughout the county. The events gave the students the opportunity to learn more about what is happening in the real world of manufacturing today and the job opportunities that are available. A total of 688 students participated in this series of events.
This fall, planning for "Tech Tour 2010" has begun. This event is designed to have students visit local manufacturers and tour their facilities. They will also have the opportunity to tour the Manufacturing Technology Institute at Jamestown Community College to learn more about the programs available there to assist them along their career paths.
"We have made great strides in both developing technology based training programs with Jamestown Community College and in implementing this major recruitment effort," said Chris Lanski, Manufacturing Technology Institute president.
For more information about joining the program, visit www.didiwny.com or call Dave Johnson, industrial services manager for the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, at 484-1101.
