Greenville Technical College is sponsoring an Advanced Manufacturing Job Fair on April 20 as part of the 2016 S.C. Manufacturing Conference and Expo. More than 30 employers and staffing agencies will be on site from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the TD Convention Center including BMW, General Electric, Hartness International, Michelin, 3M, Southern Weaving and more.
Manufacturing drives the economy in Greenville County, ranking first in Gross Regional Product and first in total earnings for all industries. However, employers in upstate South Carolina often struggle to fill jobs in advanced manufacturing because workers don’t have the right skills to help their companies grow.
Greenville Technical College is working to bridge this skills gap with its new Center for Manufacturing Innovation (CMI). Expected to open in Fall 2016, CMI will drive economic development through workforce development, research, and innovation. The concept originated with employer needs and has grown with extensive input from the manufacturing community. It will help support the workforce needs of our area’s most vital sector and promote career pathways for students.
“The Center for Manufacturing Innovation will be a place where people and opportunity come together,” said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. “The facility will draw visitors into the world of manufacturing while offering the education people need to enter the field or advance. Our partnerships with K-12 and with Clemson University will mean that all levels of education join the effort to meet the needs of advanced manufacturers while helping the Upstate attract other strong employers.
At the job fair, attendees will have the opportunity to apply for jobs on the spot and find out how to upgrade their manufacturing job skills with career training options. Pre-registration is encouraged and available online at www.gvltec.edu/manufacturing/.