Inaugural Graduation for Advanced Manufacturing Program

On Tuesday, June 14th, 15 graduates of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Program received their diplomas at City Hall, certifying completion by the program’s first matriculating class. The program is a collaboration between Somerville High School’s Center for Career, Vocational and Technical Education (CTE) and SCC’s First Source Jobs Program, and funded through a competitive grant given by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Office of Housing and Economic Development.  

The manufacturing training program is an expansion of a similar one that CTE has offered for youth and serves adults in the Somerville High School’s machine shop in the evening.

Jobs with a Future

The students completed 150 hours of machining training, CAD software training and basic welding. SCC’s First Source Jobs Program assisted with program outreach and enrollment and is now working to place these Somerville residents in living-wage jobs upon graduation, with the possibility of significant career advancement.

Starting wages range from $12 to $16 an hour. In the longer-term, average annual salary in the advanced manufacturing industry are $75,000.

While the manufacturing industry has been in decline over the past several decades, it is still the fourth largest employment sector in Massachusetts. In the next decade there is an estimated demand for 100,000 new employees across the state.