Florence-Darlington Technical College gets grant for training manufacturing workforce
Florence-Darlington Technical College’s (FDTC’s) Corporate and Workforce Development Division hopes to support upcoming workforce development needs for manufacturing employers in the Pee Dee, utilizing proceeds from a recently awarded ManuFirst SC grant.
FDTC will host two information sessions for individuals interested in the program on Dec. 11, at 12:30 p.m., and on Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m. Each information session will be held at the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT), in room 235.
Initially developed at Trident Technical College to support fast track recruitment and training of new workers for Volvo, ManuFirst SC is a 62-hour program that provides an accelerated pathway into entry level industry careers, for individuals with no previous manufacturing experience.
The South Carolina Department of Commerce, the Department of Education and Workforce, and the State Technical College System have all endorsed the program.
Four area manufacturing employers have expressed support for the program, and have agreed to accept completion of the ManuFirst SC credential, in lieu of one year’s manufacturing experience, for individuals who apply to work at their companies.
The four companies are Ruiz Foods, Beneteau, McCall Farms and Sonoco. In addition, Olsten Staffing Services has also expressed interest in the program for its hiring needs.
The ManuFirst curriculum includes training in areas important to industry, for newly hired workers, including safety, soft skills, Lean principles, manufacturing essentials and machine operations, craft math, quality, and production processes. Students in the ManuFirst SC program will also earn their OSHA 10 for General Industry certification.
Both a daytime session of the program, as well as an evening session will be held, beginning in early January, and students who earn the credential will be connected with employers with hiring needs, upon completion.
The grant will provide scholarships to pay tuition for the program, and early registration is recommended.
