CTCC & FAME: BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP FOR MANUFACTURING EXCELLENCE.

Guilford County boasts one of the most robust and thriving manufacturing sectors in the state. The county's strategic location, skilled workforce, and supportive educational systems have made it an attractive destination for manufacturers across a number of industries.

In fact, according to Manufacturing News Inc., Greensboro is North Carolina's second largest city based on manufacturing employment with 25,614 workers. Winston-Salem is third largest with 16,671 workers.

One of the key factors driving Guilford County's manufacturing sector is its skilled workforce. The county has established strong partnerships between educational institutions like Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) and local businesses to ensure a steady supply of talent. Earlier this year, GTCC significantly strengthened that commitment by launching a new program in the state that offers a specialized program equipping individuals with the skills needed for the modern manufacturing environment, while they work.

This past January, GTCC, alongside North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, announced a first-of-its-kind partnership for the state offering "earn while you learn" opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in STEM-related fields tied to manufacturing. Through its partnership with the North Carolina Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NC FAME), GTCC will educate students in a college setting, while also providing on-the-job training with one of four NC FAME sponsor companies.

The NC FAME First in Flight Chapter members include: Jowat Adhesives in Archdale; MasterBrand Cabinets in Lexington; Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina, in Liberty; ZIEHL-ABEGG and P&G in Greensboro, ABCO in Browns Summit, and WestRock in Winston Salem.

FAME was created by Toyota and moved to the Manufacturing Institute for national scaling in 2019. Today, the Manufacturing Institute, as the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, supports FAME USA which has grown to include 37 chapters supported by more than 400 company partners across 14 states. More than 1,500 students have graduated since 2012, with more than half of those graduating since spring 2020. The fall 2022 enrolling class was the largest ever, bringing the total number of students in FAME to nearly 1,000.

The FAME program's curriculum is carefully designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of modern manufacturing...