eMacomb - Progress Through Partnerships, Spring 2016

Macomb County seeks manufacturers to host tours for students on Oct. 7, 2016

Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development will collaborate with the Macomb Intermediate School District and other partners to host a countywide celebration of national MFG Day on Friday, Oct. 7. Our objective is to provide an opportunity for every high school in the county to send a busload of students, teachers and guidance counselors for a tour of a local manufacturer. Ultimately, our goal is to serve 2,100 students. To be successful, we are looking for new and returning plants to serve as host sites.

Designed to introduce the next generation of our workforce to career possibilities in the industry, host sites will welcome groups of up to 30 students and adults to their plants. Once there, the group can be divided into more manageable groups of 10 and rotate through parts of the plant. We want students to see manufacturing in action and to meet the people who make things. Keep in mind that the tours can cover all aspects of product life cycle including design and engineering, research and development, prototyping and production as well as the “front office” staff who work in sales, marketing, accounting, human resources and more.

Ideas for developing an interesting tour will be provided. Companies may opt to participate in the morning, in the afternoon or during both time slots. Each host site will have an opportunity to meet with officials from the visiting school(s) at an orientation breakfast to be held on Sept. 16 at a TBD location. The breakfast will provide an opportunity to fine tune details and make necessary arrangements for security clearances, arrival time and place and other pertinent information.

To get involved, please contact Maria Zardis at maria.zardis@macombgov.org or call 586-469-5285.

Macomb County has celebrated national MFG Day since 2013 when County Executive Mark Hackel led the media on a tour of local plants. Afterward, he assembled a group of manufacturing executives to discuss the opportunities and threats facing the industry. It was during this discussion that the idea to coordinate a countywide celebration involving students was born.

In 2014, more than 1,200 students from nearly every high school visited an area plant. The resulting evaluations were very positive; both students and adults on the tours agreed that seeing the industry in action helped them to realize that there were many interesting and well-paying jobs in manufacturing.

In 2015, more than 1,700 students from every high school participated. Macomb County’s event helped to inspire similar activities in Wayne and Oakland counties. For more information, visit www.ManufactureMyFuture.com.

eMacomb - Progress Through Partnerships, Spring 2016

Macomb County seeks manufacturers to host tours for students on Oct. 7, 2016

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