A grantee, a donor, and meeting the demand for skilled workers

Kicking off August in style, the Center for Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) at Front Range Community College (FRCC) celebrated the grand opening of a new training center for careers in high-tech manufacturing.

“There’s a real demand for machinists and manufacturing technicians in our state,” says George Newman, FRCC Advanced Manufacturing Program Director. “In 2012, we heard industry’s call. The college started the Precision Machining Technology program at our Boulder County Campus, and modified the Clean Energy Program at the Larimer Campus to align with industry skills requirements. Since then, the demand for trained manufacturing workers continues to grow.”

Indeed, Colorado expects 5K new jobs in manufacturing by 2026.

As the only college facility in the state with four advanced manufacturing programs under one roof – Automation and Engineering Technology, Electronics and Engineering Technology, Optics Technology, and Precision Machining – the new 27,000 square-foot training center on the FRCC Boulder County Campus will help meet the needs of local businesses, while providing students access to well-paid careers.

“Manufacturing is vital for the health of Colorado’s economy,” continues George, noting that some 6K manufacturers employ 5.5 percent of the state’s workforce. “These manufacturers account for 93 percent of Colorado’s exports and 7.3 percent of Colorado’s GDP. The shortage of trained manufacturing workers is the single greatest threat to Colorado’s vital manufacturing industry.”

That’s why FRCC committed $6.2M to create the training center in Longmont, which effectively expands training options for Colorado’s manufacturing industry, serving students and businesses from Westminster to Wellington.

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For the remaining $2M needed to fund the game-changing facility and its new or expanded programs, FRCC looked to funders and donors, including Community Foundation Boulder County via the Jeff Sands Memorial Blue Skies Fund. Jeff Sands, an accomplished pilot – and one of the world’s elite, record-setting skydivers – died in 2003 near Longmont doing what he loved best: flying. In his memory, the foundation-managed Blue Skies Fund – a Donor Advised Fund linked to the Mile-Hi Skydiving Center – made a significant grant to the CIM.

“Jeff wasn’t just a skydiver, he had a great technical background,” says Frank Casares, Owner/President of Mile-Hi Skydiving Center. “He loved electronics, he loved tinkering. And, knowing him, he really would have loved what the new Center for Integrated Manufacturing represents.”

Concludes George, “Boulder County is a sweet spot for manufacturing. Our machining students have an 80 percent placement rate, often before they’ve completed the program.”

“In the five years since we started a credit program, 600 machinists have been trained in either the credit or noncredit program – and most have received excellent jobs and multiple offers.”

Working together, grantees and donors are truly making a difference for our community.