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STL 2030 Jobs Plan calls advanced manufacturing a “priority industry cluster” that can drive growth in the future
As part of its efforts to strengthen the St. Louis region’s advanced manufacturing sector, Greater St. Louis, Inc. joined Southwestern Illinois College today for a tour and roundtable discussion about how the metro can grow advanced manufacturing, including through workforce and talent development initiatives like those SWIC leads.
“As a partner in our successful effort to win the competitive federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant, we wanted to come to SWIC to highlight how our region has come together to work as one metro to make St. Louis a national center for advanced manufacturing,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc. “From the training taking place here at SWIC to prepare our future workforce, to the work of partners like Boeing to create next generation aircraft to protect our country, and the establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center to develop the products and processes to move this industry forward, it is clear that advanced manufacturing is a critical part of our metro’s strategy to win this decade.”
Hall joined SWIC leadership to tour its advanced manufacturing job training facilities at the college’s Sam Wolf campus in Granite City. After the tour the group joined area advanced manufacturing company and economic development leaders for a roundtable discussion, at which they discussed how to strengthen and grow the sector.
“The focus of our work here at SWIC is workforce readiness, ensuring that we are training people to fill gaps advanced manufacturing companies face,” said Robert Tebbe, SWIC’s Chief Enrollment Development and Institutional Planning Officer. “By providing strong instruction we are addressing the workforce needs of our advanced manufacturing sector and promoting positive outcomes for our community.”
Also participating in the roundtable was Boeing, a key supporter of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center, currently under development in North St. Louis City. The company recently announced it had added hundreds of new jobs to the St. Louis-area workforce last year, with an eye toward building the next generation of defense aircraft.
“We are pleased to participate in today’s event with Greater St. Louis, Inc. and Southwestern Illinois College,” said John Frederick, Boeing Director of State & Local Government Operations. “The investments of the Build Back Better Program will be key to ensure a trained and skilled workforce in the region for businesses. Boeing is committed to these investments as we expand our footprint in the region with expansion of the Boeing St. Clair facility for the MQ-25A program, which will result in up to 300 new jobs.”
Background
- Advanced Manufacturing is named as a “priority industry cluster” in the STL 2030 Jobs Plan (page 30).
- As the voice of the metro’s civic-minded business community, Greater St. Louis, Inc. coordinated the regional effort to win a $25 million competitive federal grant in the Build Back Better Regional Challenge that will go to strengthening the region’s advanced manufacturing sector.
- SWIC was part of the region’s application and is one of the BBBRC grantees, receiving a $2.5 million grant for its Advanced Manufacturing Training Academy.
