PFLUGERVILLE MANUFACTURING ACADEMY CELEBRATES ITS FIRST GRADUATING CLASS
8 Mar 2021
Blog
On Friday, March 3, 2021, the five students of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation (PCDC) along with partners, Austin Community College (ACC), Workforce Solutions Capital Area (WFSCA), and Cumberland Additive, Inc. celebrated the graduation of the inaugural class of the Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy.
The first class of the academy began on February 25, 2021, and encompassed a 40-hour 3D Training Course curriculum provided and instructed by ACC.
“The Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy was designed as a response to the pandemic to provide unemployed and underemployed residents with opportunities to explore new careers and opportunities in manufacturing. This first training class focuses on additive manufacturing, also known as 3D Printing, and is designed to provide pathways into this exciting and fast-growth industry,” said Amy Madison, PCDC Executive Director. “With the assistance from Cumberland Additive, EOS of North America, and Essentium, Inc., Austin Community College was able to develop and deliver an excellent program for these students.”
During the virtual graduation ceremony, students recalled how the course provided a new skill that will open the door for more job opportunities and career advancement.
To assist the students in their job search after graduation, Mik Tucker, Director of Workforce Operations and Partnerships at Workforce Solutions Capital Area provided further information on internships, job search assistance, and information and advice on the different paths their new certificate can lead them.
As part of the course, students were introduced to the basic fundamentals of additive manufacturing with topics covering Introduction to additive manufacturing, tool setup, operation, and equipment maintenance.
The program has been in the works since the spring of 2020 during weekly virtual discussions hosted by the PCDC with Pflugerville manufacturers to determine a way to continue to feed the workforce pipeline and provide a focus on additive manufacturing training.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area through the Texas Workforce Commission High Demand Job Training grant program and together, the organizations are providing up to $300,000 to fund curriculum development, training, equipment, and supplies for 120 students this year.
The free 40-hour training program offers a small classroom size for maximum training on the equipment and meets all necessary requirements for COVID-19. The Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy will begin the second class on March 8, 2021, and is currently enrolling for the third class which will begin March 22, 2021.
For more information and to enroll in future classes at the Pflugerville Manufacturing Academy, visit www.pfdevelopment.com/3DAcademy