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East Texas Program Helps Bridge Skills Gap

Programs have sprung up across the U.S. to help bridge the manufacturing skills gap. Not only do career technical education (CTE) training programs cater to recent high school graduates, but they also offer training to adults who are seeking a new career.

The East Texas Manufacturing Academy (ETxAMA) in Longview, Texas serves as a training center for local industry by providing a gateway to industry certifications, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as an adult education center for retraining the workforce.

Kilgore College (KC) announced in January 2021 that it would add a basic machine shop course at the ETxAMA to its continuing education offerings.

The 96-hour course, offered through the KC Continuing Education program, covers the use of precision measuring tools and blueprint reading, as well as basic lathe, mill and grinder usage. Cost of the course is $350.

A news release issued by the organizations said the collaboration between key stakeholders and ETxAMA, KC and the Longview Chamber of Commerce have brought about increased utilization of the ETxAMA as an adult education delivery site, to bridge the gaps with employers and academia. In 2020, this collaboration began developing strategies and tactics to address these gaps.

“These are skillsets that will enable graduates to be qualified for good paying jobs, enabling a good life in our community. The objective of this collaboration is to grow manufacturing skills to supply capabilities for the existing East Texas Industry base, attract new industry and provide students with pathways to industrial jobs that will earn competitive wages,” said Kelly Hall, president/CEO of the Longview Chamber of Commerce. To learn more, visit etxama.org. n

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