MONTPELIER — The Community College of Vermont (CCV) is expanding its manufacturing training programs statewide to prepare Vermont workers for careers in manufacturing and to help businesses hire and train a qualified workforce. CCV has partnered with many businesses around the state to provide workforce education to hundreds of Vermont workers, and has plans to offer training in manufacturing and technical skills to an increasing number of companies. These collaborative programs help provide students and current workers essential skills desired by many Vermont manufacturers.
“CCV’s manufacturing training courses are helping to answer a critical need at Edlund by providing our workers with important skills that help them advance their careers and contribute to our company’s growth,” said Tammy Bushnell, human resources manager at Edlund, a Burlington-based kitchen equipment manufacturer. “Manufacturing in the 21st century requires more advanced training than ever before. Instead of searching far and wide for employees with a particular skill set, we have been able to invest in our own workforce through our partnership with CCV.”
CCV’s Career Readiness Certificate (CRC) and Certified Production Technician (CPT) courses provide students with technical skills, industry certifications and nationally recognized credentials in the manufacturing sector. During the first week of November, CCV is offering the CPT Safety module to 15 employees at Global Foundries in Colchester. In spring 2016, CCV will be offering sections of the Safety module in St. Albans, Winooski, Morrisville and Rutland, as well as the Quality Practices and Measurement modules of the CPT training in Winooski.
“In Franklin County, I’ve heard from several manufacturers who are thriving but still struggling to hire or train a skilled workforce,” said Kathy Lavoie, executive director of the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board. “That’s why the Career Readiness Certificate and Certified Production Technician courses that CCV is offering are so important — they help meet an urgent need for employers in the area. It has been exciting to partner with CCV to help bring this training to companies in Franklin County, and I look forward to continuing this effort.” 
In addition to partnering with businesses to train employees, CCV offers manufacturing training courses to new students at a number of statewide locations. CCV is currently offering the CRC course in manufacturing at its Morrisville academic center and will be offering it at the St. Albans center starting in November. The first section of the Certified Production Technician Safety module is currently under way at the Center for Technology in Essex, and concludes on Nov. 14. These public programs are funded by a Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, and are offered to new students at no cost.
CCV is also working closely with career and technical centers and Vermont Technical College (VTC) to expand manufacturing training to more Vermonters and establish a pipeline to careers in manufacturing. In addition to its programs in manufacturing, CCV offers programs in Microsoft IT Academy and the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification, which help students to develop essential technology skills required by an increasing number of employers.
To learn more about these courses, visit http://ccv.edu/workforce/ or email [email protected].