BRIDGEVILLE, DE-Delaware Tech has unveiled a new program, along with their new and improved technology center in Bridgeville. The Innovation Technology Partnership Center gives students hands-on experience and prepares them for future careers in STEM.
Officials with Del Tech also believe the recent improvements to their center will create more jobs, and better prepare students on Delmarva.
Bobbi Barends, Vice President and Campus Director said, "We have an aging workforce. We need a pipeline of individuals that can fill these very important manufacturing jobs," she said.
Barends says over the past couple of years, they have prepared more than 100 students to enter the manufacturing industry and with state of the art equipment and a new program--they expect that number to grow.
"Many individuals think, that's dirty, that's not an area I want to get into, but it's really pretty high tech, and pretty clean, and there are good paying jobs," she said.
The school was equipped with new equipment like robotic arms and troubleshooting equipment, thanks to companies like The Perdue Foundation, and the Dart Foundation, which contributed a $105,000 grant to purchase equipment for the new program.
The Woodbridge School District is also in partnership with the program, their Superintendent says the center is right across from their middle school to hopefully spark interest in younger students interested in manufacturing--and later as Juniors and Seniors, students can enroll here to have a better shot at obtaining jobs.
Heath Chasanov, Superintendent said, "From a post-secondary standpoint it was something that was desperately needed, and we're hoping this is just a start," he said.
Del Tech says this is their third program in their manufacturing offerings, the first was Production--then Logistics--and now Automation.