In July, after months of working with the Northwest Industrial Resource Center, the career center was awarded a $117,000 Manufacturing PA – Training to Career Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

The grant will help the career center develop a student-led manufacturing enterprise.

On Thursday, Principal Jim Evers and Machine Technology Teacher Colton Black welcomed state, district, and industry leaders to join them to learn about the program.

Present were State Rep. Kathy Rapp, State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, District Superintendent Amy Stewart, representatives of Ellwood National Forge and Ellwood National Crankshaft and Betts Industries, NW IRC President and CEO Bob Zaruta and Marketing and Communications Manager Laurie Knoll, and several students in the machine technology program.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren County Career Center celebrated the creation of a student-led manufacturing enterprise with support from local industry, state legislators, district officials, and the Northwest Industrial Resource Center. Pictured, from left, are: NW IRC President and CEO Bob Zaruta, State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, Warren County School District Superintendent Amy Stewart, machine technology students Jori O’Neil, Ana Watson, Dan Reickle, and Matthew Klenck, State Rep. Kathy Rapp, Machine Technology Teacher Colton Black, Career Center Principal Jim Evers, and machine technology student Shawn McCurdy.

Evers said IRC arranged a tour for district and industry officials of a manufacturing program at McDowell High School in Erie.

“Following the tour, the industry representatives were in complete support of the program and wanted the WCCC to move forward with the project,” he said. Those industries promised to provide training for the students and work for the program.

Students will do much more than make parts in the machine technology shop. They won’t simply make a part because they have to to satisfy the requirements of an industry certification – although that is a worthy goal. “A program like this allows students to see the value in the things they’re doing,” Evers said.

They will develop an operational plan, a budget, develop and execute a marking plan, find job opportunities including site visits, drawings, and CNC programming, and bid the jobs.

They will also order the supplies, determine their costs – including materials, time, wear-and-tear on equipment, and shipping – and keep the books, including paying taxes.

“Marketing students will assist in promoting the program to other local, regional, and potentially state companies to expand the enterprise further,” Evers said.

To help bring additional students to the program, the district and career center are working to develop one- and two-credit classes that they hope will be ready by January. Students could participate in the program with more flexibility – although less depth – than those who attend the career center for half of every day.

The program will include training in the use of Haas equipment and that training will culminate in a trip to Pittsburgh for students to complete the Haas training and receive their certifications, Evers said.

The program is expected to bring in some profit.

“At the end of the year, profits will be used in several ways – providing scholarships to students interesting in pursuing a career in the manufacturing field; providing tools and other needed equipment to students entering the workforce; and providing additional incentives to non-graduate participants to help promote the program for the following school year,” Evers said.

“This is a really great day,” Stewart said. “All of you standing around this room coming together to make change. Thank you for working for our kids.”

“This is really exciting,” Rapp said. “Manufacturing is the economic driver of our country… the engine of our economy.”

“I applaud all of you for what you are doing here,” she said.

“Manufacturing is the core strength of our community and our entire country,” Hutchinson said. “We need entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurial spirit. We need a mindset of how can we make things better. Thinking about that bigger picture will be another benefit.”

“Tomorrow is National Manufacturing Day,” Zaruta said. He said IRC’s priorities include “building a future talent pipeline.”

“We are excited to continue to be a strong partner,” he said.

Evers said the program could not be successful without buy-in from local industry.

“We’re happy to support the program and, honestly, we look to gain benefit from it, too,” Chad Johnson of Ellwood National Forge said.

“We’re excited,” Ryan Betts of Betts Industries said. “I think long-term this is going to be a big win for all of us.”

Students are encouraged to name their enterprise. Although the final name has not been selected, students indicated that they plan to go with Mountain Machining.