NCC Program Creating Career Pathways
Granite State Manufacturing is excited to share the news of a successful partnership between the New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership and Nashua Community College. The pilot Machinist Pipeline Program/Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp, powered by SENEDIA, has recently seen its first graduates, with five New Hampshire residents completing the program and securing employment with local companies.
Strengthening New Hampshire’s Role in Defense Shipbuilding
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, congratulated the graduates, highlighting the program’s role in bolstering the state’s position in the defense shipbuilding sector. She also expressed excitement about the opportunities this program will create for local communities.
Molly Donohue Magee, SENEDIA executive director, emphasized the importance of building a robust talent pipeline to sustain the strength of the defense industry in New Hampshire and the broader New England region. She noted that Programs like this benefit participants seeking new career pathways and businesses needing a skilled workforce.
The Machinist Pipeline Program
The Machinist Pipeline Program is a 10-week, hands-on training initiative designed to prepare individuals for entry-level CNC and machinist positions. Participants received stipends and financial support during the program, thanks to MY TURN, an organization funded through the New Hampshire Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). MY TURN serves economically, socially, and educationally disadvantaged communities, connecting them with workforce recruitment, education, preparation, and placement services.
The program involved a mix of lectures and coursework at Nashua Community College and hands-on shop floor training using CNC machines and related software.
Building the Future of the Defense Industry
Rear Admiral Scott Pappano, Program Executive Officer, Strategic Submarines, underscored the importance of nurturing manufacturing talent in an environment of increasing global threats. He stressed that re-establishing and growing manufacturing is a top priority, and talent pipeline programs like this play a vital role.
The graduates from this initial pilot cohort not only developed valuable technical skills but also acquired soft skills and professional connections that will serve them throughout their careers.
Success Stories
Granite State Manufacturing hired one of the graduates to work in our CNC machining department, where he is building on the fundamental skills he learned in the Machinist Pipeline Program.
One of the graduates shared his excitement about landing a position as a machinist trainee at a company in Merrimack, NH. He found the program to be the gateway to a stable and fulfilling career.
Another graduate described how the program transformed his career prospects. After bouncing between jobs with no clear path, he enrolled in the program and acquired machining skills, soft skills, and the confidence needed to start a manufacturing career. He accepted an offer with a company in Nashua, NH.
Next Steps
The next cohort of the Machinist Pipeline Program/Precision Manufacturing Boot Camp is set to begin on October 2nd, offering even more individuals the chance to embark on promising careers in manufacturing.
Mark Dodge, the Precision Manufacturing professor at Nashua Community College, emphasized the program’s success as a result of collaboration and innovation between academia and industry.
Jon Mason, the director of workforce development at Nashua Community College, praised the program for offering individuals unsure of their career direction and giving them a head start in manufacturing careers.
Learn More
At Granite State Manufacturing, we’re proud to participate in initiatives like the Machinist Pipeline Program that create opportunities and strengthen our communities. We look forward to witnessing more success stories as this program grows and thrives.