On Thursday, Oct. 3, students from Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC) visited Anheuser-Busch, Ball Corporation, Coresix Precision Glass, Nicewood Enterprises, Owens-Illinois, Owens & Minor and Printpack for Manufacturing Day. Students also visited the James City County Five Forks Water Treatment Plant. Manufacturing Day is an initiative of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence designed to provide high school outreach to foster an interest in manufacturing careers and to help to develop science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.
This was the seventh annual Manufacturing Day hosted in the County. More than 600 students have participated over the course of the program. Students from all three WJCC high schools experienced how advanced technology has changed manufacturing and they learned what skills are needed to qualify for careers in the manufacturing sector. The tours provide insight on potential career opportunities for students.
Teachers and James City County staff accompanied the students on the tour. The tours conclude with a discussion and lunch at Legacy Hall. The local Manufacturing Day is coordinated annually by the County’s Office of Economic Development and WJCC Schools in conjunction with Glenn Marshall with Association for Manufacturing Excellence.
In Virginia, manufacturing remains a vital part of the economy and contributes more than $44 billion to the Commonwealth’s gross domestic product annually. Virginia is home to more than 4,563 manufacturing establishments employing approximately 240,160 workers. In James City County, there are more than 1,800 manufacturing jobs and in the Greater Peninsula region, there are more than 32,000 manufacturing jobs.
To learn more about Manufacturing Day, visit their website or the economic development website.
Media Contact:
Kathryn Sipes, Assistant Director
757-253-6607; kate.sipes@jamescitycountyva.gov