Wednesday 280 freshmen from Plymouth High School took part in Manufacturing Day by visiting 11 manufacturers. Manufacturing Day is a national event where manufacturers can engage the public in the work they do, the products they make, and the careers they provide.
Plymouth High School has a history of participating in Manufacturing Day with Marshall County Economic Development Corporation and ensuring that their students are career ready. In 2016, 150 students and 5 businesses participated, and in 2017 it increased to 268 students and 8 businesses. This year, the event has grown even more to give students more choices and better reflect the variety of opportunities available to work in Marshall County.
Marshall County employers are asking for more opportunities to connect with local students, because they will soon be the next generation of workers. The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is responding to this request to engage the youth with a unique event. On October 30th, eleven area businesses opened their facilities to host tours for over 280 Plymouth High School students as part of Manufacturing Day.
The local manufacturers on the itinerary included Hoosier Racing Tire, Pretzels Inc., Pregis Innovative Packaging, CTE Solutions, Corteva and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center. Valmont Industries and ITAMCO also hosted tours of Plymouth students.
“Manufacturing Day has a powerful impact on students because they can truly see possible career opportunities that they can look forward to after graduation,” says Plymouth High School Superintendent Andy Hartley. “Plymouth High School is striving to prepare students for their future careers, and Manufacturing Day will assist in this goal.”
“We are excited that the Marshall County Workforce Development – Student Engagement Program is blossoming across the county,” says Jerry Chavez, President of the MCEDC. Several Marshall County schools, and businesses have participated in Manufacturing Day over the last few years, and this is the largest event yet thanks to the addition of new manufacturers taking part.
Marshall County is home to over 94 manufacturers, 11 U.S. headquarters, and 5 international companies. Manufacturing Day will expose students to these manufacturers and the variety of careers they offer in order to develop our future workforce. Bremen High School, Argos Jr./Sr. High School, and Culver Community Middle/High School are visiting local businesses as part of Manufacturing Day.
Bo Meadors, PHS Marketing students provided photos.
About Marshall County Economic Development Corporation
The Marshall County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the lead countywide economic development organization servicing Marshall County, the City of Plymouth, and the Towns of Bremen, Bourbon, Argos, Culver, and LaPaz. MCEDC’s mission is to expand and diversify the economy of the county and its communities by fostering investment in new and existing businesses and creating entrepreneurial capacity. Visit MCEDC on the web at www.marshallcountyedc.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.
