Labor Force Access Development Initiative

Program Title Labor Force Access Development Initiative

Location Seattle, WA

Current Status Active

Objectives

Address a shortage of trained workers in Washington's aerospace industry
Create career pathways for entry-level workers in the aerospace industry
Train low-skilled and economically-disadvantaged residents of Seattle for aerospace manufacturing careers

Target Population Economically disadvantaged residents of Seattle and the Puget Sound region The program serves about 200 welfare recipients each year. About 90 students total are enrolled each quarter, including 45-55 welfare recipients. Remaining students are a mix of other low-income people and dislocated workers. Most enter the program without a high-school diploma or GED.

Providers/Partners Shoreline Community College
Washington Aerospace Alliance

Program Design The program offers both entry-level and advanced training for Computerized Numerical Control Machine Operators (CNC).
Entry-level program: 11 weeks, 30 hrs./week (300 hours)
The entry-level training was adapted from an existing, year-long (900 hour) course. This short-term, entry-level training has been in place since 1997. All students begin with 11 weeks of classroom training, and those who are not immediately hired when they complete training go on to an industry internship. The short course ends in a certificate of completion. Students meet for 30 hours per week for about 11 weeks. The optional internship is ten weeks, 40 hours/week.
The advanced training is in the planning stages. It will be geared more for current workers who want to advance their skills. The program will end with an associate degree in Machining Technology.

Curriculum Classroom training covers:

blueprint reading
teamwork
safety
measuring and inspection
geometric tolerancing
cutting tool theory
set up and operation of CNC machining/turning centers

Key Features To enter the program, students must have math skills at about the 9th grade level and English oral and written skills at about the 8th grade level. The program also offers some pre-classes in a self-paced learning lab, tutors who help students in the machine operator class, and vocational ESL integrated into the machine operator class. Case management services are provided to students by several community-based organizations.

Results The program began Spring 1997. They have graduated 150 participants, placing them all in jobs by December 1997. Program graduates average an hourly wage of $11.67.

Program Costs

Funding Sources Funding for tuition is provided by the state's welfare reform program, by the Seattle JOBS initiative, and in the case of incumbent workers, by aerospace companies. The programís annual budget is about $200,000 with about half of that spent to serve welfare recipients.

Key Contacts C.J. Renouard, Director, Self-Sufficiency Project, Shoreline Community College (206)546-4695
Ken Rouse, CNC Program Director, (206)546-4570

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Program Title	Labor Force Access Development Initiative
Location	Seattle, WA
Current Status	Active
Objectives	Address a shortage of trained workers in Washington's aerospace industry Create career pathways for entry-level workers in the aerospace industry Train low-skilled and economically-disadvantaged residents of Seattle for aerospace manufacturing careers
Target Population	Economically disadvantaged residents of Seattle and the Puget Sound region The program serves about 200 welfare recipients each year. About 90 students total are enrolled each quarter, including 45-55 welfare recipients. Remaining students are a mix of other low-income people and dislocated workers. Most enter the program without a high-school diploma or GED.
Providers/Partners	Shoreline Community College Washington Aerospace Alliance
Program Design	The program offers both entry-level and advanced training for Computerized Numerical Control Machine Operators (CNC). Entry-level program: 11 weeks, 30 hrs./week (300 hours) The entry-level training was adapted from an existing, year-long (900 hour) course. This short-term, entry-level training has been in place since 1997. All students begin with 11 weeks of classroom training, and those who are not immediately hired when they complete training go on to an industry internship. The short course ends in a certificate of completion. Students meet for 30 hours per week for about 11 weeks. The optional internship is ten weeks, 40 hours/week. The advanced training is in the planning stages. It will be geared more for current workers who want to advance their skills. The program will end with an associate degree in Machining Technology.
Curriculum	Classroom training covers: blueprint reading teamwork safety measuring and inspection geometric tolerancing cutting tool theory set up and operation of CNC machining/turning centers
Key Features	To enter the program, students must have math skills at about the 9th grade level and English oral and written skills at about the 8th grade level. The program also offers some pre-classes in a self-paced learning lab, tutors who help students in the machine operator class, and vocational ESL integrated into the machine operator class. Case management services are provided to students by several community-based organizations.
Results	The program began Spring 1997. They have graduated 150 participants, placing them all in jobs by December 1997. Program graduates average an hourly wage of $11.67.
Program Costs
Funding Sources	Funding for tuition is provided by the state's welfare reform program, by the Seattle JOBS initiative, and in the case of incumbent workers, by aerospace companies. The programís annual budget is about $200,000 with about half of that spent to serve welfare recipients.
Key Contacts	C.J. Renouard, Director, Self-Sufficiency Project, Shoreline Community College (206)546-4695 Ken Rouse, CNC Program Director, (206)546-4570