The new initiative was announced Friday, 5/3/19, during a press conference at Starkweather Academy, part of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

“Talent has become a primary barrier to growth for manufacturing, the largest sector of the Michigan economy, and every day employers struggle to solve the challenge of recruiting talent and keeping them in the state,” said Mike Johnston, MMA vice president of government affairs. “This partnership of seven manufacturers will build a talent pipeline that meets their needs, while creating career pathways for students in their community.”

The manufacturers supporting the Starkweather Academy program include:

• Alpha USA
• Clips and Clamps Industries
• Link Engineering Company
• Loc Performance Products Inc.
• Master Automatic Inc.
• Roush Industries, Inc.
• Skyway Precision Inc.

“The launch of this partnership underscores our commitment to preparing students for future careers in manufacturing, an area which is currently experiencing a talent shortage,” said Monica L. Merritt, superintendent of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. “The support we’ve received from our business community and local leaders has been phenomenal and we are all encouraged by the prospect of preparing our talented students to thrive in our local business communities.”

Since 2011, SME PRIME® schools have reached more than 50,000 students in 46 communities across 22 states. Last year, 84 percent of graduating SME PRIME® students intended to pursue careers in manufacturing and 60 percent of those students planned to pursue postsecondary education in a field directly related to manufacturing.

For more information about the PRIME® program and how to begin delivering talent solutions to your community, contact MMA’s Mike Johnston, at 517-487-8554 or johnston@mimfg.org.

Contact Mike Johnston

Vice President of Government Affairs
Call 517-487-8554
E-mail johnston@mimfg.org