AT&T last week announced a $1,000 contribution to the Grow North Manufacturers’ Consortium to support the group’s efforts to help change the image of manufacturing in the region and promote manufacturing careers. The Consortium will use the grant to support its efforts to educate young people about manufacturing careers and to attract future graduates to pursue skilled manufacturing professions in fields like Electromechanical Technology, CNC Machining, and Welding.

“We know that many of our manufacturers are looking for workers to fill highly skilled, technologically advanced jobs,” said Ben Bonnell, Chairman of the Grow North Manufacturers’ Consortium and Manager of Process Improvement at Wausau Paper. “Part of our mission is educating our young people that manufacturing isn’t the same job their parents might have done. Today’s manufacturing is much more advanced and focused on technology, and this contribution will help us educate and encourage area students to consider exciting careers in manufacturing.”

Many manufacturers in the Northwoods are looking to expand their businesses, but lack certain skilled employees to be able to move ahead, according to the Consortium. Over the next five years, the Consortium also estimates the region will have nearly 500 manufacturing job openings due to retirements, and will need skilled workers to fill those positions and help continue to move manufacturing forward.

The contribution from AT&T will help the Consortium’s efforts to change the image of manufacturing in the region, promote manufacturing careers, and attract the skilled young people that manufacturers need to continue to grow and expand in Northern Wisconsin.

“The Grow North Manufacturers’ Consortium is doing important work to connect our manufacturers with the skilled workers they need to continue to compete in today’s high-tech, global economy,” said Rep. Tom Tiffany, a former member of the Oneida County Economic Development Corporation. “This contribution will help further their efforts to get young people excited about and engaged in the manufacturing profession.”

The AT&T contribution was announced at last night’s Manufacturers’ Conference in Antigo, Wisconsin that was co-hosted by Grow North and the Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center.

“AT&T is proud to support the Consortium’s efforts to improve the economic growth and health of manufacturing in Wisconsin’s Northwoods,” said Robyn Gruner, Director of External Affairs for AT&T Wisconsin. “Our young people need to know about the exciting, promising careers available in advanced manufacturing.”