Last week, Dream It. Do It. Colorado took to the road to connect with those related to the manufacturing industry. Dream It. Do It. Colorado welcomed more than 60 attendees over three days between the Stakeholders Meeting in Denver and Manufacturers Information Sessions in Greeley, Colorado Springs and Grand Junction.
National Program Manager Nicholas D'Antonio presented a wide variety of information, from specific ways manufacturers can be involved, to curriculum available now to Coloradans through the program, to statistics about the current and future manufacturing workforce. For example, according to a 2015 public perception study by Deloitte and the nonprofit Manufacturing Institute, 90% of Americans believe manufacturing is very important to economic prosperity, but only 30% of American parents would encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing. That is why Dream It. Do It. is not simply a training initiative. Rather, it strives to refine public perception of the manufacturing industry as well as expand the definitions of a successful career path for today's students and tomorrow's workers.
Colorado Business Roundtable joined the national Dream It. Do It. network in November 2015. Through Dream It. Do It. Colorado, COBRT convenes those involved with the manufacturing sector and existing workforce education programs. Dream It. Do It. Colorado provides an unparalleled wealth of resources to benefit and support existing programs and grow new ones. Colorado is the fortieth state to join this national initiative.
With more than 4,700 manufacturing firms in Colorado and dozens of workforce education initiatives through our school districts and community colleges, Dream It. Do It. Colorado will continue to increase involvement and outreach. Just a few months after joining though, it seems that the program is off to a promising start. "It is very encouraging to see the interest in supporting the future of the manufacturing workforce across the entire state," confirmed D'Antonio. "The Manufacturing Institute and National Association of Manufacturers stand committed to support the Colorado Business Roundtable and all partners in the successful implementation of the Dream It. Do It. program."
Other organizations so far involved include Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry; ManufacturersEdge.com; Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance; City and County of Denver Office of Economic Development/Division of Workforce Development; Community College of Denver; Parker Chamber of Commerce; Douglas County School District; Colorado Workforce Development Council; US Brazil Connect; and many more.
Thank you to Metropolitan State University, CAVEA; Greeley Chamber of Commerce and FMS Bank; Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance; and Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce for hosting the meetings. Thank you to all the attendees as well! Next steps include a website, a statewide project management and collaboration platform, and the 2016 Dream It. Do It. Collaborative Learning Conference in May. For more on the national Dream It. Do It program, click here.
Contact Dream It. Do It. Colorado Program Coordinator Tara Alexander at 303-394-6210 or [email protected] for additional information including a webinar of our information session. Sign up here to join the Dream It Do It Colorado email list.
