A $300,000 windfall, a strengthened bond between local education and local industry, and a boon for employers in Traverse City’s manufacturing sector: A recent award could bring all these to the Northwest Education Services Career-Tech Center and the region.

The North Ed Board of Education has voted to accept a potentially groundbreaking designation from the SME Education Foundation. Pat Lamb, principal of the Career-Tech Center (CTC) and North Ed’s assistant superintendent of career and technical education, tells The Ticker that the designation, called SME PRIME, will ultimately provide an infusion of “$300,000 plus” to help reshape the school’s manufacturing programs.

SME (the Society of Manufacturing Engineers) is a Michigan-based nonprofit that has been working since 1932 to “accelerate widespread adoption of manufacturing technologies and build North America’s talent and capabilities.” PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) “partners private industry with academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country.” Schools designated with SME PRIME status receive considerable funding for equipment, curriculum development, teacher training, student scholarships, and extracurricular activities, all aimed at helping those schools better address the talent development needs of the manufacturing industry.

According to Lamb, North Ed’s CTC is one of 16 U.S. schools to receive the designation this year. Approximately 110 schools across 23 states are enrolled in the exclusive program, including around 50 in Michigan.

The PRIME program has been on North Ed’s radar for years. Lamb says the CTC previously applied earlier in the decade, but didn’t get it. This year, though, the school had a big champion in the form of Bill Myers, CEO of Traverse City-based manufacturer Promethient.

“Toward the beginning of the school year, Bill called me and asked me if we were familiar with this opportunity,” Lamb says. “I went back and found the letter of denial that we got a few years ago, which encouraged us to apply again. But this time, I think Bill’s connections and support were a big, big reason our application was successful.”

Myers is thrilled the PRIME program is linking up with the CTC, telling The Ticker that the designation “will further their ability to offer strong educational pathways for manufacturing careers.”

One unique aspect of the program that both Lamb and Myers highlight is its adaptability. Rather that offering every enrolled institution a one-size-fits-all approach, the SME PRIME program sends representatives to each designated school to take stock of their unique needs. It also surveys local industry players to gauge what they need when it comes to talent development. SME then takes all that information and formulates a customized plan to elevate its manufacturing programs and make them more suited to the needs of industry.

“The PRIME program will enable the development of high school curriculum tailored for the needs of our local manufacturers,” Myers explains. “It’s unique because it helps launch the curriculum and fund the purchase of equipment, but it also can provide resources to sustain and evolve the program over time.   To be clear, this is a terrific win for both students and manufacturers in the Grand Traverse region.”

Per Lamb, the gears are already moving for PRIME to transform the CTC and its programs. Since being notified of the award a month ago, the CTC has already hosted SME representatives, who toured the school and took notes about its facilities, equipment, and programs.

“They were blown away by what we have and by the opportunities that already exist here,” Lamb says of the SME reps. “They really felt like we could do a lot with this money going forward, in part because our equipment needs are different than what they’ve typically purchased for schools. We have some of the better equipment already, so they were looking at even more sophisticated things that they could give us. For example, I know they were looking at 3D printers, precision measuring equipment, and robotic arm systems.”

As for the survey of area manufacturers, Lamb says he’s already spoken with multiple local businesses that submitted detailed responses. He’s hopeful the feedback will help make the CTC a stronger partner in training the manufacturing professionals of tomorrow so they are ready to step into local jobs.

“We already try to base everything we do off of what the local region is looking for,” Lamb says. “How can we train students in things that will meet the needs of our local industry when they graduate? SME PRIME will help us do that better.”

When will the PRIME money start making an impact for CTC students? Lamb says the surveys are already underway, and once the feedback is in, SME will work with North Ed to finalize a list of equipment and curriculum investments. The goal, Lamb expects, will be to get everything purchased and put in place early this summer. That schedule would allow time for CTC staff to get trained on any new equipment in July or August, in time for the start of a new school year in September.

As for the specific programs that could see changes, CTC’s initial application for PRIME focused on four of the school’s offerings: the engineering academy, precision machining, robotics and automation, and welding. But Lamb expects even more.

“After visiting, SME sees needs in all of those programs, but they also went through our power equipment and auto tech programs,” Lamb notes. “So, it’s possible this award could affect half a dozen of our programs.”