Manufacturing day

What is Manufacturing Day?

Manufacturing Day is a national program by The Manufacturing Institute to raise awareness of manufacturers' vital role in many communities and states across the United States.

Locally, the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, Bay College, Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, UP Michigan Works, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, and local manufacturers such as Billerud, CCI Systems, Loadmaster, Nelson Paint, System Control, and Trident Maritime Systems work with area schools to introduce professional skilled trades career paths to all ninth-grade students in the region.

Representatives from each business guide hands-on experiments to show students the types of jobs available right here in Dickinson County upon graduation from high school.

Students also learn about dual-enrollment educational paths through the Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center and Bay College.

Alliance Investors support this event, with additional sponsorships from Bay College, Enbridge, M.J. Electric, Norway Springs, and UP Michigan Works.

skilled Trades Career facts

Job security

The manufacturing sector is one of the most significant contributors to our local economy in the Dickinson area.

Over the next 4-5 years, the area’s large manufacturing employers are expected to need approximately 800 professional trades employees.

Dickinson consistently has the lowest unemployment rate of all 15 counties in the U.P.

competitive wages

Dickinson County has the highest average weekly wage among all 15 U.P. counties, at $1,172/week – that is $60,944 per year, plus benefits.

Less debt

Not all careers require incurring debt from a 4-year university program, and many are available to students upon graduating from high school.

With dual enrollment and early college programs through the Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center and Bay College, students can gain skills and college credit while still in high school.