Lincoln County Partnership Awarded Maximize Carolina Grant for Workforce Pipeline Development

Lincoln County Economic Development in partnership with their Industrial Management Association,Lincoln County Schools,and Centralina Workforce Development Business Solutions,applied for and received a NC Department of Commerce,Division of Workforce Solutions Maximize Carolina Sector Grant. Maximize Carolina Sector grants help finance collaborative projects to address skills gaps in robust and emerging industry sectors.

Lincoln County’s project focused on heightening the awareness of 8th graders and their families to the great careers in that exist with Advanced Manufacturing companies in Lincoln County. The grant award,matched by public and private contributions,funded production of two high energy career awareness events. One during the school day for all the school systems’ eighth graders and an evening session for parents and families. The events were produced by Edge Factor,a recognized media and promotion expert,associated with many nationally recognized industry-related partners,including: The Hass Technical Education Center,National Association of Manufacturers,NIMS and NCATC.

The project also included teacher training and a 3 year subscription to an on-line toolkit of supporting educational and awareness resources such as technology and career pathway videos related to CNC and 3D printing projects,soft skills,event resources,virtual field trips,interactive classroom and STEM activities,tools to reach parents,projects and activities. The toolkit can be used to show how the subject matter being taught in the classroom relates to careers in real life.

The goal of the project is to better educate students and their parents about how career opportunities in today’s advanced manufacturing environment are different than several years ago and encourage them to pursue the training and skill development needed by Lincoln County manufacturers.

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