The Bank of America Charitable Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Greenville Tech Foundation to provide for advanced manufacturing training specific to the plastics sector.
Manufacturing in Greenville County is an economic powerhouse, first in Gross Regional Product and total earnings for all industries. It is responsible for nearly all annual capital investment in the area and has the highest multiplier effect of any sector. Yet employers struggle to find people with adequate skills to fill job openings.
The gift will help Greenville Technical College meet the needs of plastics sector employers. A one-week class, providing 40 hours of specific skill development, will be offered through the college's Corporate and Career Development division.
"We are grateful to Bank of America for helping us address the needs of area manufacturers so that they can grow and our economy can continue to improve," said Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College. "Our Center for Manufacturing Innovation will open in 2016 as a response to the needs of advanced manufacturers, and as we move toward that opening, support from community partners including Bank of America will mean that together, we continue to build the Upstate as a strong environment for manufacturing."
The Corporate and Career Development Division at Greenville Technical College enrolled 12,525 people and served 363 Greenville County companies in 2014. Options include programs to build skills in health care, skilled trades and technical areas, business and process excellence, creative careers, and in the environmental, health and safety arena.