Welding (Photo courtesy of NWTC)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — To address an urgent shipbuilder shortage, NWTC is receiving a nearly $600,000 federal grant.
The Department of Navy’s (DoN) Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education and Workforce Program awarded the technical college $579,181 to attract and grow a new talent pool to bridge the workforce gap in Northeast Wisconsin’s shipbuilding sector.
With this grant funding, NWTC will launch the Welding Rodeo: Experiences in STEM Education program. This will entail a series of events designed to promote welding careers and attract a new talent pool. These events include STEM career fairs, hands-on welding workshops, welding competitions for every skill level, and a metal sculpture contest with proceeds funding scholarships.
The Welding Rodeo is projected to begin by fall 2024 with annual events taking place in both Marinette and Sturgeon Bay.
Dating back to World War II, NWTC has collaborated closely with the maritime sector; offering tailored training to shipbuilders and working with workforce development to grow the industry.
In recent years, NWTC has played a critical role in the expansion of the shipbuilding workforce, training nearly 15,000 new hires and incumbent workers through its North Coast Marine Manufacturing Training Center. The college holds a longstanding partnership with Fincantieri Marinette Marine and has recently expanded to also provide specialized training through NWTC’s Sturgeon Bay campus for Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.
NWTC offers tailored training at dedicated shipyard facilities in Marinette and Sturgeon Bay. These facilities, staffed by expert instructors, will continue to support the rise in contracts for U.S. Navy vessels.
Comments