Industrial Technical Learning Center Opens in San Bernardino County

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif., March 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Technical Learning Center (InTech Center), a new training center located on the campus of California Steel Industries (CSI) near Fontana in San Bernardino County, will train more than 2,000 workers in advanced manufacturing, advanced transportation, logistics, energy and utilities as well as computer/ICT/digital media. The programs are conducted at no cost to employers and employees due to a competitive grant awarded by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT).

InTech Center is part of a solutions-oriented effort to provide an economic boost to the area by providing new skills to workers who are then able to quickly fill jobs in manufacturing, distribution and related technology sectors.

"Workforce shortages or skills deficiencies in production roles have a significant impact on the ability of manufacturers to meet customer demand. This center was funded specifically to fill that gap. It will provide training to workers and in turn, these skilled workers will provide the workforce to build a strong manufacturing base in the County," said Janice Rutherford, Second District Supervisor for the County of San Bernardino.

In 2014, Chaffey College and the Inland Empire Regional Training Consortium (IERTC) received nearly $15 million from the TAACCCT competitive grant program, which is co-administered by the Department of Labor and Department of Education, to improve manufacturing training in the Inland Empire. The IERTC includes 10 community colleges, 2-four-year universities, the Manufacturers' Council of the Inland Empire as well as several faith-based and community organizations. All participating colleges received individual funding to provide training across the Inland Empire region.

Of the 71 grantees named across the nation, Chaffey and the IERTC were the sole California recipients.

According to a 2014 Inland Empire Center of Excellence (COE) report, recent regional data suggests burgeoning employment opportunities for TAACCCT-trained employees in advance manufacturing fields. COE has identified 4,350 advanced manufacturing businesses within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. In 2012, these businesses generated $24 billion in revenue and provided an estimated 96,519 jobs in the Inland Empire's two-county region. The COE has identified 45 manufacturing occupations in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties that are expected to generate 2,020 annual openings (new and replacement jobs). Furthermore, these projections do not take into account the "greying" of the current advanced manufacturing workforce. Over 90% of local advanced manufacturing employers anticipate growth and/or hiring to meet the expected workforce demand.

New research from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute concurs. It reports that 84 percent of manufacturing executives cite a talent shortage in US manufacturing, and that this gap will be exacerbated by more than 2.7 million professionals exiting the manufacturing workforce through retirement over the next ten years.

InTech Center focuses on career paths which include lab work and coursework in a hands-on training environment. The programs attract workers with high school diplomas (or GEDs) who have career and educational goals not found in a formal college or university setting. The program also includes a partnership with the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) to develop coursework focused on Control Systems Technology.

"In addition to providing brand-new skills for workers, we are helping to update existing skill levels for incumbent workers. Our course designers are watching job and trade demand in the region so that we can better tailor programs to what the industry needs now and in the future," said Dr. Henry Shannon, president, Chaffey College.

"As a major employer in the region, we're familiar with the critical need for skilled workers who can seamlessly move into manufacturing jobs," noted Brett Guge, executive vice president, Finance & Administration at CSI. "InTech is one of the best solutions to ensure these talented people are available," he continued, "not just for CSI but for manufacturers and other employers throughout the region."

Rutherford added, "The training center is a game changer in our ability to recruit and retain manufacturers and tech-related industries. To be able to provide training and jobs matching programs at no cost to employers is a significant benefit to business owners that locate to the area."

The Industrial Technical Learning Center is at California Steel Industries Campus Building A at 9400 Cherry Avenue in Fontana. More information is available at intechcenter.org.

About San Bernardino County: Located at the heart of Southern California, an economy of 23 million people, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States. Visit www.SBCountyAdvantage.com.

SOURCE San Bernardino County

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