Ivy Tech Community College has partnered with the Gene Haas Foundation to help train students to meet the needs of employers in advanced manufacturing.

The school says that the Gene Haas Foundation has awarded $29,500 to the Ivy Tech Foundation for scholarships and to fund advanced manufacturing training at the Ivy Tech Columbus/Southeast campuses. The Haas Ivy Manufacturing scholarships will enable military veterans, recent high school graduates, and underemployed and dislocated workers to transition into good-paying, high-demand careers in the advanced manufacturing industry.

“We’re fortunate to have Ivy Tech on the front lines helping to close the skills gap in Indiana,” states Toni Neary, Haas Factory Outlet – Director of Education. “Local manufacturers need skilled machinists in order to keep manufacturing here at home, which is a personal mission for Gene Haas and the Gene Haas Foundation.”

Ivy Tech says that advanced manufacturing is the top employment sector in southeastern Indiana, representing more than 36 percent of the area’s employment base. Because of the age of the existing workforce, southeastern Indiana’s manufacturers anticipate losing 45 to 55 percent of their skilled technicians over the next five to seven years. In addition, the school says that 90 percent of the area’s manufacturing employers plan to increase their number of employees in the next one to three years.

Founded by Gene Haas in 1999, the Gene Haas Foundation has awarded more than $35 million to deserving charities and educational institutions. The foundation was formed to fund the needs of the local community and to support manufacturing education. The foundation provides scholarship funds to community colleges and vocational schools for students entering technical training programs, especially machinist-based certificate and degree programs, as well as supports youth programs that inspire young people to consider manufacturing careers.