Wylie, Texas – Date – September 25, 2024. In celebration of Manufacturing Day 2024, The Wylie Economic Development Corporation (Wylie EDC), along with its community partners, is proud to announce a month-long series of activities. This program is specifically designed to celebrate the tremendous contribution that manufacturing provides to support and maintain a thriving economy. In addition, activities are structured to connect students and industry as they explore the diverse workforce opportunities available within Wylie’s manufacturing business sector. In 2024, more than 200 Students will participate in business/factory tours involving 8 technical skill sets/disciplines at 17 local employers.
To launch this year’s events, a Manufacturer’s Appreciation Reception was held before the September 24th City Council meeting. The reception was followed by a proclamation ceremony led by Mayor Matthew Porter. Prior to the reading of the Proclamation, Mayor Porter invited each of the manufacturing businesses represented, along with educators, community partners, and city staff to introduce themselves and the company they represented.
Industry tours for students involved in complementary CTE Programs in Wylie ISD will begin on October 3rd on Sanden Blvd, Hensley Lane, and Martinez Lane with tours of Avanti Windows & Doors, Barco Pump, Cates Control Systems, CNC Innovations, EXCO Extrusion Dies, Lone Star Circuits, SAF Holland USA, Sanden International USA, Savage Precision Fabrication and Tower Extrusion. Multiple days for student and community activities are planned throughout the month.
Returning in an expanded form this year are ‘Open to the Public’ events and tours hosted on October 3rd by Sanden International USA and Cates Control Systems at 601 Sanden Blvd. The following week on October 10th, Barco Pump and Lone Star Circuits on Hensley Lane will open their doors to the public for facility tours. Food trucks will be on hand to serve citizen tour participants during the event.
Additional student tours will be conducted throughout the month focusing on compounding pharmacies, dental device manufacturing, construction, and architecture disciplines.
Since its inception in Wylie, Texas in 2018, MFG Day activities have provided more than 1,000 students with employer connections in our community, in 280 individual manufacturing facility tours. Today, 63 manufacturing businesses call Wylie home generating more than $140 million in annual sales and providing more than 1,700 manufacturing jobs to local citizens.
According to the Manufacturing Institute, manufacturers in the United States will face an unprecedented demand for workforce with an estimated 3.8 million jobs needing to be filled by 2030. Technical and automation-related skills are quickly becoming critical skills for today’s manufacturing processes.
“Wylie’s MFG Day program supports the Manufacturing Institute’s nationwide effort to raise awareness for the tremendous career opportunities available in the manufacturing industry” commented Jason Greiner, Executive Director of Wylie EDC. “Wylie students are fortunate to have these programs readily available as early as their freshman year in high school. These educational pathways are perfectly suited to meeting the growing demand for highly skilled professionals who can program, design, and operate advanced technology,” he added. “Wylie ISD and Collin College are dedicated to ensuring that our students have access to programs that allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities available in this rapidly expanding and well-paying industry.”
About MFG Day
MFG Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner. The Institute grows and supports the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The Institute’s diverse initiatives support women, veterans, students, and workers through skills training programs, community building, and supporting the advancement of their career in manufacturing. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Institute is a trusted adviser to manufacturers, equipping them with the resources necessary to solve the industry’s toughest challenges.
About Creators Wanted
Creators Wanted is the manufacturing industry’s largest campaign to build the workforce of tomorrow. The campaign is a joint effort of the National Association of Manufacturers and The Manufacturing Institute, the 501(c)(3) workforce development and education partner of the NAM.
About the Wylie EDC
The Wylie Economic Development Corporation (Wylie EDC) is funded through a citywide half-cent sales tax that is funded by over 240,000 local area residents. The WEDC facilitates corporate relocations, local expansions of existing businesses, retail/commercial development, and revitalization projects. The Wylie EDC facilitates the creation of new jobs and generates additional tax revenue for the benefit of the community.
For more information, visit www.WylieEDC.com.