Arizona Western College students in manufacturing will receive more hands-on training opportunities thanks to a new grant announced Thursday.
The U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, announced it has awarded $50 million to 11 organizations around the country that will provide training and technical assistance to support manufacturers in the SBA's Empower to Grow (E2G) program.
Arizona Western College will receive $5 million for their Manufacturing Business and Automation Accelerator (MBAA) program. It's a year-long technical assistance initiative that offers manufacturing training and business advisement to small manufacturers and manufacturing startups in Southwest Arizona.
AWC has a manufacturing training center in Wellton in eastern Yuma County.
In a released statement, AWC president Reetika Dhawan said "Through this investment, we are not only strengthening small manufacturers, we are building careers, creating opportunities and fueling innovation that will shape the futures of our communities. At AWC we are proud to stand alongside industry as a trusted partner in preparing the workforce and businesses that will power America's next generation of manufacturing."
Small Business Administration Pacific Regional Adminstrator Steven Snow said in a released statement "Arizona Western College plays a critical role in workforce development for manufacturing by providing hands-on career and technical education in advanced manufacturing. By partnering with instititutions like Arizona Western College, the Small Business Administration is deliverinf real results and investing in the next generation of America's manufacturing workforce, strengthening our capacity to produce American-made products and supporting jobs here at home."
Arizona Western College is KAWC's license holder.
