by Kelly Rogge, public information manager, KCKCC
Did you know that you can become an advanced manufacturing technician (AMT) with little or no cost in two years through Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Automation Engineer Technology (AET) program?
More information about this program is available at an upcoming open house from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Dr. Thomas R. Burke Technical Education Center, 6565 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas. The event is free and open to the public.
Wyandotte County has more than 5,500 skilled jobs available. Through its partnership with FAME (Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education), students not only can be prepared for an in-demand career but finish debt free. Careers in this field can begin at $50,000 and go even higher, according to Wyandotte County labor statistics through Jobs EQ.
KCKCC students will spend two days a week at the college and the other three days as a paid intern at local manufacturers. This is an “earn while you learn” program.
The open house will give those interested an opportunity to learn about the program, visit the new AET lab and meet AET FAME students.
First developed by Toyota, the FAME program serves to solve a local skills trade shortage while providing a pathway for people to earn a technical associate of science degree debt-free. Currently, there are 32 FAME chapters in 14 states, and participation continues to grow.
Local manufacturing company leaders – Amsted Rail, Best Harvest Bakeries, Brill, Inc., Catalent, Empire Candle, INX International INK Co., TT Electronics and CH Guenther and Son dba Williams Foods, established the first FAME chapter in Kansas – the Kansas City FAME chapter. Supported by the Kansas MEP, Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, Wyandotte Economic Development Council and Workforce Partnership, the Kansas City FAME chapter expects to grow its membership base of manufacturing companies.
For more information on applying for the FAME internship program, visit the FAME KC website. For more information on the program at KCKCC visit the website or contact Rich Piper.