This September, we are excited to launch our Manufacturing Connect program, a significant initiative made possible by a grant from Career Connect Washington. This program will introduce high school students to the compelling world of manufacturing within the Greater Spokane Valley region. The planning process to bring this program to life has been ongoing since early 2023, and one of the final steps was a test run we performed in May.
Manufacturing Connections
The Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce considers receiving the Career Connect Washington grant a significant success. This grant was specifically earmarked for program development and gave us the resources and capacity to launch the Manufacturing Connect program. Our main goal is to narrow the divide between education and industry by providing high school students with a firsthand look at potential career paths in the manufacturing sector.
The initial program design for Manufacturing Connect features a collaborative effort between the Valley Chamber and Spokane Valley Tech, a vocational school in the Central Valley School District. Salvatore (Sal) Lorenzen, the instructor of the Advanced Manufacturing Program at SVT, played a crucial role in preparing his students for this experience. He said one of the most rewarding aspects of the tour was seeing his students connect their classroom knowledge to real-world applications. This connection between education and industry reinforced their learning and ignited their interest in pursuing careers in manufacturing.
A Model for What’s to Come
On the morning of May 15, a group of 25 high school juniors and seniors embarked on a city-wide tour to give them a better understanding of the local manufacturing sector. The tour included visits to three prominent regional manufacturers: ASC Machine Tools Inc., which provides machinery engineering and manufacturing services for the metal-forming industry; HDT Global designs and manufactures expeditionary products for military, government, and commercial use, and Spokane Seed Co. grows, processes, and trades dried peas, lentils, and chickpeas.
These manufacturers were specifically chosen because although they may appear as unassuming and discrete buildings from the outside, they are market leaders in each of their respective industries, and they’re all located right here in the Spokane Valley. For example, ASC manufactures steel purlin machines, the structure that holds solar panels. HDT is the industry leader in manufacturing shelters, generators, vehicles, robotics, and more for the military. Spokane Seed provides the highest-quality food products for some of the world’s largest and most recognized food companies.
What’s Next
The Manufacturing Connect program is a testament to our dedication to career development and industry engagement. By leveraging the Career Connect Washington grant, we have created an opportunity for students to discover career possibilities right in their own backyard.
Future tours will run monthly in the 2024-25 school year. This can only be made possible by our local manufacturing partners’ involvement in the upcoming Manufacturing Connect tours.
