Manufacturing Association to partner with Junior Achievement

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The Delaware Manufacturing Association  (DMA), an affiliate of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, announced a five-year commitment to partner with Junior Achievement of Delaware.

The association  will join other Delaware organizations in Junior Achievement’s BizTown campus, an interactive program for grades 4-6 that combines in-class learning with a day-long visit to a simulated town. Students operate banks, manage restaurants, write checks, and vote for mayor, helping them connect the dots between what they learn in school and the real world.

The announcement was made at the Chamber’s annual Legislative Brunch & Manufacturing Conference on March 19. The DMA hopes to create more awareness about and drive earlier interest in manufacturing industries and jobs.

“I am very excited to announce the successful launch of the DMA’s partnership with Junior Achievement of Delaware. This July, we will open one of our first major education and marketing campaigns with the Delaware Manufacturing Association’s new space in JA’s BizTown. This collaborative project is designed to expose students to the new world of manufacturing and the 21st century careers available to them in Delaware,” said Bryan Horsey, manager, external affairs & operations for Bloom Energy and co-chair of the DMA.

“Manufacturing is alive and well in Delaware,” says local Junior Achievement president Rob Eppes, “and this new partnership will demonstrate that to literally thousands of young people who are our next generation of employees and business owners.”

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Manufacturing in Delaware is beginning to see job gains, but is now facing the challenge of finding staff in an economy with a low employment rate.

Like construction, manufacturing struggles with the largely inaccurate perception sometimes fostered by parents and others that work is dangerous and does not offer opportunities for advancement.

Construction groups are working to let students and parents know about opportunities and the chance to make a good living.

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