Students across Berrien and Cass counties had the opportunity to make potential job and internship connections while learning more about local industry during the fifth annual Manufacturing Day Friday at AACOA, 1950 Mayflower Road, Niles.

Six local manufacturers across Berrien and Cass counties were available to talk with students and share more about industry. The event was organized by Kinexus, an equal opportunity employer based in Benton Harbor.

Brand Coordinator Kristin Bivens said they anticipated more than 400 high school and middle school students participated.

“It is basically to get youth interested in manufacturing, because it has always been seen as a dead and dying industry,” Bivens said.

But in Michiana, industry job growth is on the rise. According to research conducted by Bivens, it is anticipated that there will be 18,000 manufacturing jobs available in Van Burren, Cass and Berrien counties by 2024, a growth rate of 4.9 percent from 2014 to 2024. The area’s three largest manufacturers are electrical equipment, appliance and component manufacturing, where, according to Bivens, the average salary is $150,000.

Additionally, the need for more young people in the industry is there, with Berrien and Van Burren counties seeing a 5.5 percent reduction of workers ages 20 to 54 between 2012 and 2017.

“We need talent,” Bivens said. “You can make a decent living. There are a lot of opportunities. It is not the idea that a lot of us have in our head.”

Bivens said by partnering with local manufacturers and area partners, Kinexus hoped to show that manufacturing does not have to mean a dirty, unappealing job.

For students who want a hands-on career, manufacturing can provide a job option without the cost of earning a four-year degree.   

“We are so pressured to go to college now days,” Bivens said.  “It’s nice for them to see that you can make a living doing something that you may not have thought about.”

Throughout the day, students had the chance to tour AACOA, a manufacturing company that specializes in extrusion, fabricating and anodizing aluminum.

As machines inside the AACOA factory rumbled, students talked with those involved directly with the industry. Among them was Niles High School senior Tyler Kennedy.

After joining the robotics team last year and becoming head of hardware, Kennedy said he felt like he had found a passion in manufacturing. He also enrolled in fabrication and auto shop classes at the high school to learn more tricks of the trade.

“There’s always going to be demand for jobs,” Kennedy said. “Everyone has the mindset that you have to go to a four-year college, but with manufacturing you can start [a job] right out of high school. You can get a certificate or associates and won’t have as much debt.”

One day, Kennedy hopes to work in engineering or welding. During Manufacturing Day, Kennedy said he hoped to make connections for a potential internship.

“It’s my senior year,” Kennedy said. “I’ve got to find places I am interested in and that will be interested in me and set up a job opportunity, so when I come out of high school, I have a job that’s ready to go.”

On Friday, Kennedy got the chance to connect with area manufacturers that might help him to take the steps to achieve his career goal.

“It shows the jobs in our area,” Kennedy said. “What we could do for possible education, internships and job references that we could get starting out. We can find a place to work nearby so that we don’t have to go far from home.”

Dowagiac manufacturer Lyons Industries, which creates bathtubs and sinks, was searching for employees like Kennedy. Customer service associate Kasia Lyszkiewicz said Lyons has part-time, entry level jobs available, which pays between $13 and $14 an hour. The third shift, from 3 to 11 p.m., pays slightly more. 

“If they want to go to school, it can be a great starting point if you are looking for something right out of school,” Lyszkiewicz said.

Employees can also get a $1,000 reimbursement for college tuition, depending on students’ grades.

Those interested in applying are advised to apply at LyonsIndustries.com.

Manufacturing Day is a national event. Bosch in St. Joseph also hosted area students, drawing approximately 1,300 students between the Niles and St. Joseph location.

Career Technical Instructor Wayne Borr said 19 Niles High School students signed up to participate in Manufacturing Day and it was an opportunity he did not want students to miss.

“This is so real world and that’s the goal,” Borr said.