REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT BOARD OF HAMPDEN COUNTY, INC.

Precision Manufacturing - PMRAP/2.0

The Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Inc., in partnership with the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association (WMNTMA) and other industry leaders, regional educational institutions and economic development entities, have received funding from the John Adams Innovation Institute to implement the Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project (PMRAP)/2.0.

Grant Award: $150,000

Project Length: September 1, 2011-December 31, 2012

Project Partners:
  Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Inc.
  Western MA Chapter- National Tooling and Machining Association (WMNTMA)
  Regional Precision Manufacturing Companies
  Springfield Technical Community College (STCC)
  Holyoke Community College (HCC)
  Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts (EDC)
  Seven Vocational Technical /Comprehensive High Schools

Key Project Deliverables:
  Memorandum of Understanding 
  Workforce Development Survey
  Infrastructure Capacity Report
  Manufacturing Fact Sheet
  Incumbent Employee Training Courses
  Incumbent Employee Accelerated Weekend Program at STCC 
  Business Impact Report
  Expanded Regional Precision Manufacturing Technology Advisory Council
  Talent Sustainability Report
  PMRAP Sustainability Proposal

Project Synopsis:
The Precision Manufacturing Regional Alliance Project PMRAP/2.0 will support the development and implementation of a program to identify the new technology skills needed by the Region's precision manufacturing industry, implement programs and activities that will enhance the education/training infrastructure, strengthen the technical skills of the incumbent workforce, and ensure the development of a sustainable talent pipeline to enhance regional economic development.

Project Outcomes/Economic Benefits:

  1. Implement programs and activities that will enhance the education/training infrastructure, strengthen the technical skills of the incumbent workforce, and ensure the development of a sustainable talent pipeline to enhance economic development.
  2. Build working partnerships with the broader precision manufacturing industry. 
  3. Pilot an accelerated weekend Associate's degree pathway program at Springfield Technical Community College that will respond to the new technical requirements and skills competencies needed by the regional precision manufacturing sector companies and their employees.
  4. Identify the technical requirements and standards needed by the precision manufacturing workforce, and assess the feasibility of transitioning present initiatives and activities (used successfully in the precision machining sector) to the broader precision manufacturing base.
     
    For further information please contact David M. Cruise at (413) 755-1362, dcruise@rebhc.org