Charleston, WV, April 12, 2021 – The West Virginia Manufacturers Association Educational Fund Inc. (WVMAEF) announced today the awarding of a $17,000 grant from the EQT Foundation to support the expansion of programming across the North Central West Virginia and the Mid- Ohio Valley regions. The grant will directly benefit middle and high school students from Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Tyler, and Wetzel counties by supporting interactive educational activities that create student awareness and excitement about manufacturing careers and the subsequent educational pathways toward those opportunities.

Charleston, WV, March 17, 2021 – Explore the New Manufacturing announced today the receipt of an $8,000 grant from Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia to support programming initiatives that will directly benefit students in the Metro Valley region, including Putnam, Cabell, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Mason counties. The gift will support interactive educational activities that create student awareness and excitement about careers in manufacturing and the subsequent educational pathways toward those opportunities.

Charleston, WV, March 10, 2021 – The Explore the New Manufacturing Program announced today that nominations would be accepted for two distinguished awards, the Emerging Elite in Manufacturing Award and the Outstanding Industry Educator Award.

The Explore Program is seeking nominations for West Virginia high school students and educators who have exceled in career readiness fields, technical education, and STEM classes that focus on manufacturing careers. Nominations will also be accepted for middle schools that creatively engage students in career literacy programing.

Here’s your chance to nominate West Virginia high school students and educators who excel in career readiness fields, technical education, and STEM classes that focus on manufacturing careers. Nominations will also be accepted for middle schools that creatively engage students in career literacy programing.

Does your company need a more qualified pool of candidates and enough skilled applicants for entry level positions?

The employment opportunities within the West Virginia manufacturing industry are rich and diverse. Yet, positions remain unfilled, waiting for qualified applicants, while many training programs struggle with low enrollment. Statistics tell us students don’t deliberately avoid training programs nor industry careers. Most are unaware they exist.