It all started four years ago with a very successful Manufacturing Day launch at Sunset Tool in Bridgman. A year later, students swarmed Mach Mold & Gaishin Manufacturing. Last year, they set new attendance records when Edgewater Automation was the host site. This year, the team at Kinexus will double up their 4th Annual Manufacturing Day resources by hosting simultaneous events in both Berrien and Van Buren Counties as they work to address the misconceptions that manufacturing is a dying and dirty industry.
Manufacturing Day 2016, as hosted by Kinexus locally, will celebrate Southwest Michigan's $2-billion manufacturing industry side-by-side with ongoing efforts to attract students to the new world of advanced manufacturing concepts in order to quash those misconceptions.
This year Kinexus has expanded Manufacturing Day to simultaneous sites at Kay Manufacturing in St. Joseph for Berrien County students and Lake Michigan College's South Haven Campus for Van Buren participants. Those who take part in Manufacturing Day will have an opportunity to learn about the vast array of things that are made in their own backyards, and get a chance to see demonstrations by local career and technical education students and robotics teams.
Last year's event drew hundreds of students, school administrators, local officials, and the community. Over 1,000 students, manufacturers, elected officials, and community members are expected to attend this year’s dual events. The event is free and open to the public.
A legislative update and business roundtable discussion will take place at the Van Buren County host site at Lake Michigan College in South Haven.
Manufacturing Day will take place from 8:00am until 3:00pm in both counties. The Berrien County host location is Kay Manufacturing, located at 3401 Lakeshore Drive in Saint Joseph. Tours of Eagle Technologies will be offered for those that pre-register for the Berrien County location. The Van Buren County host location is Lake Michigan College in South Haven, located at 125 Veterans Boulevard in South Haven. Tours of Riveer and Spencer Manufacturing will be offered for those that pre-register for the Van Buren County location.
To register for Manufacturing Day, simply click this link: http://mfgday2016.eventbrite.com.
Questions about Manufacturing Day can be directed to Amber Layman, Kinexus Sector Strategy Manager, at 269-927-1064 x1163 or laymana@kinexus.org.
Manufacturing Day is an annual national event that brings together hundreds of manufacturers nationwide to host students, teachers, parents, job seekers and other local community members at open houses designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers. To learn more about the national movement, visit mfgday.com.
Kinexus is a nonprofit organization that invests millions in funding each year in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties through integrated business, workforce, and community development. For more information, go to www.Kinexus.org and follow along on Twitter @KinexusGroup and Facebook at facebook.com/KinexusGroup.
