IRON MOUNTAIN — Manufacturing Day is a national program by The Manufacturing Institute to engage students, parents, educators and community partners in raising awareness of manufacturers’ vital role in many communities and states.

Locally, the Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance, Bay College, Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District Tech Center, Michigan Works, and local manufacturers will host a Manufacturing Day event today that lets ninth grade students from area schools interact with local manufacturers and learn about professional trade careers.

“Each October, we bring together students and area employers to shift perceptions about what it means to work in the professional trades upon graduating high school,” said Mindy Meyers, director of The Alliance.

“Manufacturing Day is one opportunity for students to explore one aspect of working in the professional trades. Students will also learn about the dual enrollment educational paths and early college through the Dickinson-Iron ISD Tech Center and Bay College.”

Representatives from Billerud, BOSS Snowplow, CCI Systems, Loadmaster, Systems Control and Trident Maritime Systems will provide students with hands-on activities to help them learn more skilled trade careers at their companies.

“Those working in the professional trades play a crucial role in the health of our local economy. We need to shift perspectives about what successful careers look like,” Meyers said. “We expect more than 300 students from Kingsford, Iron Mountain, North Dickinson, Niagara, Norway and Florence to be in attendance.”

For more information and facts about professional trades careers, go to www.daeda.org/shift.

“Goes to that connection between education, businesses and really that partnership of working together, to show what we have here in Dickinson County,” Breitung Township Superintendent Aaron Yonke said. “I think it’s eye-opening for students to realize there’s really high-quality employment opportunities here. And the nice thing is it goes hand in hand with the ISD and the vocational center. It sparks an interest they can get over there, with local industry. That’s not just us. It’s a great opportunity for the kids.”

The Dickinson Area Economic Development Alliance is the leader in stimulating economic development in the Dickinson County area of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Alliance joins business, industry, education, government, and community organizations to grow the region’s economy by retaining, recruiting and growing talent for our growing employer base as well as promoting business retention and expansion, government relations and advocacy, and infrastructure and housing development. Through marketing and branding efforts, The Alliance tells the unique story of a robust community in which to live and work. The Alliance is a 501(c)(6) with 80% of its funding from private-sector employers.