Hello CMMA members, friends and associates,

I always look forward to sharing some CMMA “news from my desk” and I hope this message finds you and yours doing well amid these changing times. 

First off, let me please tell you of some exciting events, activities and opportunities coming up. Our annual Summer Social is just around the corner on August 19. New this year, the event will be held on-site at Process Logic. Come and go as your schedule allows from 4-7pm. Automated machines and robotic equipment on display! Registration fees, which include food and drinks compliments of Process Logic, will be treated as a fundraiser in support of CMMA's workforce development projects. Invite your friends and colleagues to join us for the annual CMMA networking event!

CMMA, along with our many partners, is whole-heartedly celebrating manufacturing in Minnesota in October! Early on in our organization’s work and in strong effort to help solve significant workforce challenges, CMMA gave life to the “Tour of Manufacturing” as an innovative, educational, inspiring, and myth-busting extravaganza. This year, Minnesota will celebrate October as Manufacturing Month – a change from the week-long celebration in year’s past. Our goal is to build a strong Manufacturing Month of activities with our partners, manufacturers, schools, and communities by exhibiting and marketing the opportunities in the high-tech world of modern manufacturing. Find all the information on our Manufacturing month web page, including industry specific information. 

• Manufacturers can register on our K12Navigator.org, offer in-person or virtual tours; reach out to local schools and offer presentations about manufacturing career pathways; sponsor school's VEX Robotics programs; or set up scholarships with local colleges.
• Schools can reach out to local manufacturers to request personalized tours for their teachers and students; ask local businesses for technical support and/or materials to do manufacturing projects in their classrooms; and help students understand the successful career pathways available in manufacturing.
• Chambers and community leaders can recognize local manufacturers by highlighting their local companies and debunking manufacturing myths in their newspapers and on social media sites; have a luncheon for local manufacturers recognizing their contributions to the community; offer proclamation certificates to their local manufacturers.

Also, there are many regional events and sessions including tools to diversify your workforce, how to develop youth skills training, apprenticeship opportunities and information on the MN Job Skills Partnership Programs (MJSP) Training Grant Programs.

CMMA is excited to sponsor the 2nd annual central Minnesota CTE Jamboree on October 21 from 7:30 - 11:00am at ROCORI High School. This is an amazing effort to bridge the gap between education and the manufacturing industry as we build stronger career pathways by developing student training and apprenticeship opportunities through Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways for high school students. We invite school board members, superintendents, principals, counselors, CTE Teachers, manufacturers, and community leaders to hear about the thriving CTE initiatives in our state. The format will allow local manufacturers and educators to interact and vision programs to expand on the CTE focus that is taking place in education right now. Tours of Coldspring, a leading bronze manufacturer, natural stone fabricator, and quarrier will also be available.

Manufacturers: Remember to register your business in our K12Navigator.org.  The K12Navigator aggregates work-based learning resources that educators can integrate into classrooms and/or workforce development programs. It’s a FREE tool to connect education and Central Minnesota manufacturers for career exploration. 

Have you heard? Announcing a NEW member benefit: Employer Dental & Vision Plans! This new partnership provides AMFA, CMMA and TSMA members access to cost-effective employer dental and vision plans offering a range in plan designs, cost efficiencies, innovative technology, simple enrollment and administration. The addition of Employer Dental & Vision Plans brings us to five programs endorsed under MBiz Solutions. The core objective of MBiz Solutions is to provide a suite of options that have potential to lower members’ operating costs.

Please take full of advantage of upcoming CMMA offerings, none of which would be possible without our fantastic members, volunteers, partners, and friends! 

CMMA, contributing to the growth and success of manufacturers.     

In service,
Les Engel
CMMA President