File Photo / Jim Neuger
John Lewis
Updated: 1 hour ago
Maine groups aim to build manufacturing career pathways
File Photo / Tim Greenway
The Manufacturers Association of Maine has teamed with SkillsUSA Maine to forge stronger ties between manufacturers and young people while expanding awareness of career pathways. Shown here is a welding instructor at the Bath Iron Works Training Academy at Brunswick Landing.
The Manufacturers Association of Maine has teamed up with SkillsUSA Maine to strengthen ties between manufacturers and students while opening the door to more career pathways.
SkillsUSA Maine, based in the Hancock County town of Surry, already hosts manufacturing-related competitions as part of its state leadership and skills conference, touted as Maine’s largest hands-on workforce development event for middle-school, high school and college and postsecondary students enrolled in career and technical education programs.
Through the partnership with MAME, the goal is to build deeper ties with industry, giving the competitions a higher profile, increasing exposure to modern manufacturing careers and expanding scholarship opportunities in manufacturing and the skilled trades.
“Manufacturing offers high-skill, high-wage career opportunities that are essential to Maine’s economy, yet many students are not fully aware of what modern manufacturing looks like today,” said John Lewis, executive director of the Manufacturers Association of Maine.
“This partnership allows us to connect industry more directly to students, helping ensure they see how their skills and interests align with real-world manufacturing careers in Maine,” he added.
Last year, MAME provided scholarships to winners in SkillsUSA Maine’s manufacturing-related competitions at its annual conference, according to Lewis.
"We plan to continue that support at a larger level and we are also introducing a state competition for additive manufacturing at this year's competition in March,” he told Mainebiz.
Hal Casey, executive director of SkillsUSA Maine, said that the organization has always emphasized hands-on, industry-relevant learning.
"Partnering with MAME allows us to strengthen those industry connections, giving students a clearer understanding of manufacturing careers and the expectations of today’s employers,” he said.
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