The partnership and grant will allow the school to begin offering programs that will provide students with training and career opportunities in the electric vehicle and semiconductor industries, creating a talent pipeline into growing industries.
Kellogg Community College has received a $3.5 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp that will help the school participate in an initiative to train and educate both newcomers and current workers in the electric vehicle and semiconductor industries to strengthen the region’s workforce. The MEDC has also awarded grants to Western Michigan University and other institutions around the state totalling $30 million to invest in mobility careers.
According to an article on Kellogg Community College’s website, Ava Attari, who serves as the Director of Higher Education Partnerships with MEDC, was quoted as saying, “For Michigan to lead the nation and win the war for talent, we must close the talent gap. That’s why the MEDC is leading the largest state talent attraction and retention initiative in the United States. Our bold strategy is designed to develop and deliver talent specific to Michigan’s new, tech-forward economy in areas where we have the most opportunity to grow advanced manufacturing — areas like electric vehicles, mobility and semiconductors.”
The funding from MEDC will allow Kellogg Community College to purchase equipment for students to train with, hire career coaches, and strengthen relationships with industry partners like Ford Motor Co.’s BlueOval Battery Park Michigan and DENSO. It will also be used to develop the curriculum with local employers that will be necessary to ensure the students are qualified to go into the electric vehicle and semiconductor industries. Some of the funding will also be put toward building a pipeline for students in K-12 schools in Barry, Branch, and Calhoun counties to Kellogg Community College and to employment with local employers.
The grant funding will allow Kellogg Community College to become the first in the country to be able to use FANUC’s CRX-5iA Collaborative Robots, which are industrial robotic arms, in its training programs. After being trained on the FANUC robots, students will be able to pursue industry certifications like Robot Operations (C-103), Ethernet Communications (C-212), Smart Sensors (C-213), Smart Factory Systems (C-214), and Industry 4.0 Total Productive Maintenance Management (C-211) from the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. Additionally, students will have access to Amatrol’s Enterprise System for smart manufacturing training using programmable logic controllers and smart sensors.
Dr. Paul Watson, the president of Kellogg Community College, was quoted as saying, “These investments are about more than technology. They’re about preparing our communities in Calhoun, Barry and Branch counties for a brighter, more prosperous future. Together, we are building the skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of the advanced manufacturing industry and ensuring our region remains at the forefront of innovation. KCC is grateful for strong partnerships with Ford, DENSO and the MEDC. We look forward to putting these partnerships to work – literally – for current and future KCC students and trainees for many years to come.”
This Kellogg Advanced Manufacturing Industry 4.0 program is designed to help upskill employees who are already working at Kellogg Community College’s advanced manufacturing partners, and to create a pipeline of newly trained individuals who are ready to enter the workforce. The employees who have been recommended for upskilling with Kellogg Community College will be placed with a career coach who will help them ensure they can overcome any barriers to their training, including transportation, childcare, and tuition costs.
Todd Greer, the vice president of Manufacturing at DENSO in Battle Creek, said of the partnerships created via the grant funding, “We appreciate KCC and the MEDC’s continued support of skilled trades and advanced manufacturing training. This programming not only supports our ongoing efforts to upskill our teams, but also helps give people the tools they need to grow a manufacturing career in Michigan – benefiting the local workforce, our industry and our communities.”
For more information about Kellogg Community College, visit the school’s website.