There are many reasons why our local economy continues to hum along and flourish. But work remains in the efforts to connect talented individuals and career paths to local businesses.

In Lincoln's economy, manufacturing continues to be a vital sector and one that is important to every corner of the state. Many people have never worked in manufacturing and are not aware of the multiple shifts and career pathways possible. The latest figures show that the manufacturing sector will continue to grow and upwards of 1,000 new jobs could be available in our community by 2024.

Back in October 2019, 10 different Lincoln area manufacturers teamed up in an effort to grow the talent pipeline. The Lincoln Manufacturing Council along with numerous partners in the community including TMCO, Bison/IMSCORP, Kawasaki, the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and others, created a six-week class for adults to learn about manufacturing, measurement, career pathways and employment skills.

The response was fantastic. Not only was that first class a success but the demand for a second class and perhaps more down the line continues to exceed our expectations.

The program continues to grow, with 14 area companies now invested in the program and continuing education. There are incredible opportunities for people looking to land careers with good pay and benefits through their reliability and hard work.

The upcoming sessions for January and February will be held at Educare (3435 N. 14th Street) on Tuesday evenings and Community Action (210 "O" Street) on Wednesday evenings. The two classes of 15 people each will begin on January 21 and continue through February 26.

Benefits for attendees of the classes include a stipend, childcare and a meal at each class. Since most people are already working, the stipend offsets lost income. As the demand remains strong, there will likely be additional classes offered as 2020 continues.

For more information on the program, contact Bryan Seck at bseck@selectlincoln.org or 402.436.2365.