Blackhawk and Regional Manufacturers Establish Alliance

Blackhawk Technical College is excited to announce its partnership with the Stateline Manufacturing Alliance (SMA). Established in February 2021, the SMA is the result of regional manufacturers, economic/workforce development organizations, and K-12 education providers coming together to address common challenges and opportunities.

As a regional catalyst for recruitment and development in the fields of advanced manufacturing, SMA members actively share information and data. In addition, SMA members are poised to strategically collaborate with each other on activities, initiatives, and programming to develop the youth and adult talent pipeline by creating increased job and career exposure, engagement, and interest. 

“These types of partnerships create opportunities to share best practices, as well as leverage scarce in-kind and fiscal resources, regarding various employee recruitment/retention strategies,” said Colleen Koerth, Manager of Workforce Development at Blackhawk Technical College.

For example, Blackhawk is pleased to partner with the SMA at the upcoming, countywide Manufacturing Days event – scheduled for October 26, 2021. The event is part of a national effort to inspire students to pursue careers in manufacturing. 

To date, nearly 40 regional manufacturers are participating in the SMA. A sampling of these participants include: ANGI Energy Systems, Baker Manufacturing, Ball Corporation, Bell Laboratories, BlueScope Buildings, Charter Next Generation, Coextruded Plastic Technologies, DeLong Company, Edgerton Gear, Freedom Graphic Systems, Fairbanks Morse Defense, Frito Lay, GOEX, Hormel Foods, Husco, IKI Manufacturing, Ingersoll Machine Tools, Jones Dairy Farm, Lyons Magnus, Morgan Corporation, Novares, NAPCO, Nestle Purina, Panoramic, Prent, Scot Forge, Seneca Foods, Serta Simmons Bedding, SSI Sintered, SSI Technologies, Stoughton Trailers, The Morse Group, Tigre, United Alloy, Versa Tool & Die, and Western Container. 

The SMA is actively seeking additional members to join its collective efforts in building and sustaining a regional pipeline of skilled and qualified employees. To learn more about becoming a member, visit www.statelinemfg.org or contact Colleen Koerth at (608) 743-4597 or ckoerth@blackhawk.edu.