A trio of mobile advanced manufacturing labs that will bring critical workforce training resources to rural areas across South Carolina were unveiled this week.
The event at the William H. “Billy” O’Dell Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence in Greenwood was the result of a unique collaborative initiative between Piedmont Technical College, Aiken Technical College, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.
Funding for the mobile labs’ initiative came from a four-year, $4.9 million Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. The purpose of the grant is to address pressing workforce needs in advanced manufacturing and nursing in a 10-county region. Its aim is to reduce vacancies and create sustainable career pathways.
The new mobile labs are equipped with simulation software and industry-grade equipment to provide hands-on, real-world advanced manufacturing education and skills development. An integration of online and hybrid formats will offer students greater accessibility.
By focusing on rural areas with high poverty rates and lower educational attainment, the mobile labs will offer programs that lead to life-sustaining wages and benefits for new workforce entrants, underserved and marginalized community residents, dislocated workers, unemployed individuals, and incumbent workers.
Aiken Technical College President, Dr. Forest E. Mahan said the value of the mobile labs goes beyond education.
“It’s about reaching the workforce needs of our region by creating access to life-changing opportunities for underrepresented groups,” Mahan said.
The new mobile labs are climate-controlled and accessible. They can operate via plug-in or generator, ensuring reach to remote areas.
An advanced manufacturing curriculum offers early/entry-level skills as short-term certificates. These certificates can lead to higher-level credit programs based on demonstrated skill mastery, providing a clear pathway for career growth.
The project also involves key personnel, including a retention counselor, project director, instructional designer, and more, to ensure success by guiding students through course completion, workforce entry, or transfer opportunities.
Learn more at atc.edu/manufacturing.