HURRICANE, W.Va – The Putnam County Development Authority, the cornerstone organization for the Kanawha Valley FAME Chapter, will host an open house on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Advanced Technology Center on the South Charleston campus of BridgeValley Community and Technical College.

The open house will allow those interested in the FAME program the opportunity to tour the Advanced Technology Center, learn more about advanced manufacturing technology, and speak to FAME participating companies, Toyota West Virginia, Nucor Steel West Virginia, Kanawha Scales and Systems, Niterra North America (formerly NGK Spark Plugs), Service Wire Company and Appalachian Power. Nontraditional students are encouraged to attend and apply for FAME.

“PCDA has played a critical role in developing the Kanawha Valley FAME Chapter and developing a FAME Chapter in West Virginia,” said Andrea Huggins, Manager of HR Operations for Toyota West Virginia and president of the Kanawha Valley chapter of West Virginia FAME. “The sponsoring employers, BridgeValley Community and Technical College and PCDA, have worked hand-in-hand to build this program and we all share a deep, abiding commitment to create sustainable workforce pathways for so many in our community.”

FAME, the Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education, is a national workforce training program supported by the Manufacturing Institute that follows the apprenticeship model, allowing students to attend community college while providing paid on-the-job work experience at a chapter employer. Students earn a sustainable wage and a potentially debt-free two-year associate’s degree in Advanced Manufacturing Technology with the WV Invests Program and BridgeValley Community and Technical College’s ASCEND program.

“Bringing this type of on-the-job training is key to building our next generation,” said Trish Weisberg, Director of HR & Safety – Service Wire Company, one of the program’s newest employers. “Joining the Kanawha Valley Chapter of FAME is a wonderful pathway for us to connect with students and provide quality livelihoods and lifelong manufacturing careers to our community.”

The Putnam County Development Authority is the economic development organization for Putnam County, West Virginia, focusing on creating jobs, increasing the tax base, and facilitating development in the county through attraction and retention, which consists of widely different and unique tasks. At its core, PCDA is driving development in Putnam County.

“When we think about how PCDA can help retain businesses in Putnam County, one of the most influential ways we can help is workforce development. PCDA is the nonprofit sponsor of the Kanawha Valley FAME Chapter because we understand that cultivating the next generation of workers and retaining young workers in our area is critical to our regional economy,” said Morganne Tenney, executive director of the Putnam County Development Authority.

Posted in West Virginia, West Virginia FAME Chapter