Success Stories
Unusual grant helps Coalition fund workforce priorities
January 2008
Fueled by a $1.8 million grant from WorkSystems, Inc. (WSI), the Manufacturing 21 Coalition has been invited to design a workforce-training program focused on meeting the needs of the region’s manufacturing industry.
It’s up to the Coalition where and how to spend the money. Terry Smith of Precision Castparts is leading a task force of 15 companies to help design and direct the expenditure of the federal training funds from WSI.
The partnership between MFG 21 and WSI is unique. Grant money usually is awarded to a provider with the best proposal. But this year, WSI took a different approach, asking the MFG 21 board to direct the expenditure of the money based on industry priorities.
The MFG 21 task force will pick the curriculum and vendors based on priorities set by industry leaders.
The Manufacturing 21 Coalition is slowly establishing itself as the go-to resource for advice on how to spend new grant money. With its extensive connections to, and knowledge of, the Pacific Northwest’s manufacturing industries, the coalition has helped steer federal and local dollars in the right direction in order to reverse the workforce and research and development crises that companies in the region currently face.
In addition to the WSI grant, MFG 21 recently helped procure $1 million in federal money for research and development projects, as well as another $400,000 for training organizations focused on creating products for the defense industry in Southwest Washington and Oregon.
MFG 21 also recently worked in Washington, D.C., to steer $3.5 million to Portland State.
January 2008
Fueled by a $1.8 million grant from WorkSystems, Inc. (WSI), the Manufacturing 21 Coalition has been invited to design a workforce-training program focused on meeting the needs of the region’s manufacturing industry.
It’s up to the Coalition where and how to spend the money. Terry Smith of Precision Castparts is leading a task force of 15 companies to help design and direct the expenditure of the federal training funds from WSI.
The partnership between MFG 21 and WSI is unique. Grant money usually is awarded to a provider with the best proposal. But this year, WSI took a different approach, asking the MFG 21 board to direct the expenditure of the money based on industry priorities.
The MFG 21 task force will pick the curriculum and vendors based on priorities set by industry leaders.
The Manufacturing 21 Coalition is slowly establishing itself as the go-to resource for advice on how to spend new grant money. With its extensive connections to, and knowledge of, the Pacific Northwest’s manufacturing industries, the coalition has helped steer federal and local dollars in the right direction in order to reverse the workforce and research and development crises that companies in the region currently face.
In addition to the WSI grant, MFG 21 recently helped procure $1 million in federal money for research and development projects, as well as another $400,000 for training organizations focused on creating products for the defense industry in Southwest Washington and Oregon.
MFG 21 also recently worked in Washington, D.C., to steer $3.5 million to Portland State.
