Shawnee State University receives grant from Appalachian Regional Commission for manufacturing programs

Shawnee State University’s Advanced Manufacturing Center has been awarded a grant via the Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) initiative in the amount of nearly $2 million. The grant will allow the university to provide training, degrees, and credentials to prepare individuals for advanced manufacturing careers in the wake of job losses in the coal industry.

According to an article on Shawnee State University’s website, Adam J. Miller, the interim dean of the College of Business and Engineering Technology, was quoted as saying, “The College of Business and Engineering Technology at Shawnee State University is committed to supporting the economic development and workforce needs of the region through our academic programs, the Kricker Innovation Hub, K-12 outreach, and community partner engagement.” He added, “Through this project, we will be able to build on strong, nationally recognized programs in engineering technology and strong plastics engineering labs with the newly established Advanced Manufacturing Center that will add hands-on learning with robotics and automation to our academic and workforce development profile.” 

Shawnee State University will implement the infrastructure needed to provide training, degrees, and credentials to prepare individuals impacted by coal industry job losses for careers in advanced manufacturing, such as semiconductor or automotive careers. The school will establish new laboratories with the equipment needed to train for jobs in these fields, such as robotics and other automation equipment. 

Additionally, Shawnee State University will begin to create a pipeline through which it will reach out to K-12 students and begin to get them interested in pursuing a career in advanced manufacturing, through efforts such as creating a "Manufacturing on the Move" mobile lab for students to visit for hands-on learning experiences.

Gayle Manchin, the ARC Federal Co-Chair, explained the organization’s initiative, saying, “ARC’s POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities' preparation for the next phase of Appalachia’s economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures. The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region.” 

For more information about Shawnee State University, visit the school’s website.