Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/484021
10 | /INSIGHT ON MANUFACTURING • March 2015 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m FUTURE AT STAKE c o n t i n u e d Manufacturers have been aware for a long time the gap between the growing number of technically focused jobs and the availability of skilled and trained workers is widening. NWTC's proposed expansions, additions and renovations — about half of which focus on the Trades & Engineering Technology areas — are aimed at helping to weld that gap closed, keeping up with the changing demands of the workplace. "I can't begin to tell you how many businesses have said to me, 'You know, we could expand, but we're fearful we're not going to be able to find the people (we need), so we don't," Rafn says. "When you make an investment in this college, there's clearly a return, but that return is not just to the student — it's right to your community." Bill Behme, human resources manager at Bay Shipbuilding Company & Ace Marine in Sturgeon Bay, says manufacturing company leaders are concerned about the lack of skilled labor. "ey're dying for welders, they're dying for CNC operators, electricians — the trades are in short supply everywhere," Behme says. "And as business continues to pick up, and it is — there just is not the skilled labor pool that we need. e last thing we want to do is restrict what we take as far as orders because we can't find people." e largest portion of the NWTC referendum is focused on increasing capacity in the trades and engineering technology areas. e expansions and renovations also will address needs in public safety, energy technology and other fields. "We are actually in our fourth record year of enrollments in trades and engineering," Rafn says, and with the college's continued work with UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh on joint engineering technology programs, the interest will only continue to grow. Additionally, NWTC is "moving really aggressively into the IT area," Rafn says. "We basically had a networking program and we were repairing computers." But IT professionals need people with soware development and maintenance knowledge, he says. A program that started this school year planned for 20 students and ended up The NWTC referendum at a glance The $66.5 million NWTC referendum proposes to: » Add 160,944 square feet of new space and renovate 240,000 square feet at three campuses,. » Increase capacity to add 1,000 full-time equivalent students and generate $3 million in operational revenue. » Green Bay campus: Improvements and additions to the trades and engineering and other departments, including public safety. Includes creation of a Transportation Center, the Great Lakes Energy Education Center, expansion of the Manufacturing & Engineering Center, renovation of the Construction Center, burn tower replacement, addition of an Emergency Vehicle Operations Control Building, expansion of Information Technology (IT) programming, expansion of Digital Arts and Media and increased capacity for Career Services delivery. » Marinette campus: Renovate and add new space to the Health Sciences program; add programs and expand capacity of the Trades & Engineering department; add IT programs in Business; create Student Engagement space; parking lots. » Sturgeon Bay campus: Renovate fabrication space and expand welding areas; create Student Engagement and integrated support spaces; renovate and expand Health Sciences; renovate delivery spaces. » $2 million reserved for future land or facilities acquisitions. Source: NWTC Students at Digital Media Technology radio station. COURTESY NWTC