Contact:
Pamela Cox
Economic Development Office
(239)
338-3161
pcox@leegov.com
New
Tool Convinces Kids Manufacturing Careers Are Cool
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (June
19, 2002)---An upbeat, interactive CD designed to convince kids that careers in
manufacturing can be both lucrative and cool, will be unveiled on Wednesday,
June 19 at the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association annual meeting.
Even though manufacturing
productivity in the U.S. has been increasing faster than that of any other
sector in the economy, growing by 4.7 percent yearly from 1996-1999, interest in
careers in manufacturing continues to decline.
Convincing young people to consider careers in this sector has become a
major focus of the National Association of manufacturers, the Center for
Workforce Success, the U.S. Department of Commerce and regional organizations
such as the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association in Southwest Florida.
With some 700 manufacturers in
Southwest Florida, the combination of demand for workers, historical perceptions
of the manufacturing industry and an overall lack of interest amongst students,
led local manufacturers to take matters into their own hands and develop a
solution to build awareness first, and future employees second.
Working with the Lee County
Industrial Development Authority, local economic development organizations and
local manufacturers, the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association produced
an interactive CD titled “Job Opportunities in Manufacturing” to be used as
an educational and recruitment tool for the industry.
Using a fun, upbeat format, the
CD introduces students, parents and teachers to today’s manufacturing
industry, careers, skills required and compensation expectations.
Local manufacturers such as The Shaw Companies, Saftronics, S4J
Manufacturing, Arthrex, Klocke of America and others are profiled throughout the
CD.
Current plans call for the CD
to roll into the hands of students this fall at schools throughout Southwest
Florida, with the official debut scheduled for Wednesday, June 19, 7:00 p.m.
during the annual meeting of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association. The meeting will be held at the Country Creek Country Club,
21131 Country Creek Drive in Estero.
Additional information on the CD is available by calling the Economic Development Office at (239) 338-3161.