The inaugural Rivers East Advanced Manufacturing Academy took place at Pitt Community College in Greenville, North Carolina on Friday, September 23. High school teachers from the county school systems in Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, and Pitt Counties met to learn more about Advanced Manufacturing careers available to their students. The teachers explored the Electrical Systems Technology, Industrial Systems Technology, and Welding programs available at Pitt Community College.
The teachers also sat in on a Shop Talk livestream moderated by Trey Goodson of NC East Alliance featuring representatives from five local companies and the NC Biotechnology Center: Jack A. Farrior Steelworks, Fuji Silysia, Gregory Poole, Grady-White Boats, and Hyster-Yale. During this livestream panel, the teachers heard the needs of local employers firsthand.
Teachers will attend three additional sessions scheduled to take place: October 21 at Beaufort County Community College, November 18 at Martin Community College, and December 9 at Roanoke-Chowan Community College. Once the teachers successfully complete the Academy, they are eligible for a $1,000 stipend and the opportunity to complete an onsite externship with a local employer.
This project is funded by Golden Leaf Foundation.
NC East Alliance is a regional economic development organization representing twenty-nine counties in eastern North Carolina. NC East leads advocacy efforts in the region by convening stakeholders to identify important regional challenges and ultimately pursue solutions to these challenges. In addition to regional advocacy, the alliance supports existing industries, promotes STEM education through STEM East, and conducts targeted company recruitment.
The Rivers East Workforce Development Board (WDB) is composed of leaders from the private and public sectors. They provide regional leadership, guidance, and support to meet the changing needs of the community through strategic innovation and collaboration. This organization is also responsible for the operations of the NCWorks Career Centers and providing Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) services in the five-county Region.
—Press Release
