Corridor launches Manufacturing 101

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is sponsoring Manufacturing 101: Learn to Earn, short courses designed for adults and 2014 high school graduates. There will be two, three-week sessions offered this summer; one beginning June 9 and one on July 7. There is no cost for participation.

Fifteen spots are allotted for each of the sessions, totaling 30 adult students. A person must be 18 years of age and have completed their senior year of high school. Manufacturing 101 will emphasize assisting individuals in a respectful, adult-learning setting where they will learn the manufacturing, human relations, career and safety skills needed to be immediately hired.

Both courses will take place at the Spencer High School Industrial Technology building on the Spencer High School campus. Classes will run all day for 15 consecutive business days. Successful execution of interviews throughout the course may lead to on-the-spot hiring for participants from a variety of employment settings to choose from.

"This training is in response to the significant hiring underway and projected for the next several years by manufacturing employers in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region," said Kathy Evert, President and CEO of the Iowa Lakes Corridor. "Manufacturing 101: Learn to Earn is a great public/private partnership between several employers in this region, Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Lakes Community College. The goals are to increase the availability of skilled workers and for more people to land a good job."

Many community industry professionals are on board with the three-week program, stating they are looking to hire these students upon completion. Some of the employers include: Polaris Industries, Vander Haag’s, Ranco Fertiservice, Maurer Manufacturing, Shine Brothers, Tecton Industries, Pure Fishing and Rosenboom.

Applications for Manufacturing 101: Learn to Earn are now being accepted. Interested participants may contact the Corridor at tsherrill@lakescorridor.com or 712.264.3474 for more information and application.