The Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce (GMACWorkforce) MOVE-HIRE program held its inaugural NexGEN Expo 2019 for approximately 225 area high school seniors interested in careers in medical device and advanced manufacturing on March 28th at the William R. Moore College of Technology.
Participating students from Shelby County Schools’ College and Career Technical Education Department had the opportunity to network with major industry partners and leading post-secondary educators to learn about pathways to a rewarding career after graduation.
Industry partners included Atlantic Track, Elos Medical, Grace Medical, GQSI, Microport Orthopedics, Olympus Surgical Technologies, Onyx, RMS Surgical, Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical, Y & W Technologies, along with the Greater Memphis Medical Device Council.
GMACWorkforce’s MOVE-HIRE program is a tuition-free skills training program providing industry-recognized credentials and work-based opportunities including apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and internships to prepare participants in the medical device advanced manufacturing industry. Specific careers include machinists, machine operators, metal finishers, quality assurance, packaging, and logistics.
While NexGEN 2019 exposes students to employers and post-secondary schools offering the training, MOVE-HIRE is broadly designed to help adult low-wage and unemployed workers move into high-paying manufacturing careers in a rapid-growth industry.
The medical device industry in Memphis, Tennessee employs approximately 7,000 people directly and 10,000 people indirectly, generating $2.4 billion annually in economic impact for the local economy and $50 million in annual tax revenue.
The GMACWorkforce MOVE-HIRE’s total project cost is $12,761,801 funded by a $5,992,314 (47%) grant from the United States Department of Labor and leveraged with $3,077,442 (24%) from other Federal, $527,714 (4%) state, and $3,164,331 (25%) institutional and private funds.