Bridgestone utilizes Make it in America grant to subsidize Polymer Training

Akron Polymer Technology Services (APTS) networks with companies, economic development organizations, government agencies, and other UA groups to provide training opportunities to industrial clients. Dr. Jelynn Stinson, Manager of APTS, led the effort to implement the effective utilization of Make it in America (MIIA) training grants this year by Bridgestone employees. Dawn Ake was the second Bridgestone employee to benefit from the program. (Pictured from left to right: Dr. Jelynn Stinson, Dawn Ake, Penelope Pinkston)

Richard Frampton of Bridgestone, who attended courses using MIIA grants earlier this summer, stated “I have a better understanding of rubber properties”. He rated the APTS facilities as excellent. Dawn stated “the APTS facility is a great place to hold short courses and the staff did a great job”. She is looking forward to attending another APTS course in September.

The Make it in America grants, administered regionally by Ohio Means Jobs, are designed to spur business investment and job creation in the United States and encourage foreign and domestic businesses to build and/or expand their operations here. The grant also encourages U.S. companies located in Northeastern Ohio in the advanced manufacturing sectors of transportation, energy, or medical manufacturing to keep, expand or re-shore their manufacturing operations in America.

Partnerships such as these are important because they allow business and education leaders to address their common cause to preserve the nation’s competitiveness and provide economic opportunity. Both business and education leaders will benefit by leveraging their combined knowledge of job skills, labor markets, instructional methods, and student demographics to prepare a highly skilled workforce.

This mutually beneficial example of UA connecting Bridgestone with initiatives such as Make it in America illustrates the passion that APTS has to advance the polymer industry through development of a workforce with critical skills for company clients. Initiatives such as this one assist in the enhancement of the capabilities within The University of Akron and are a great way to fulfill the APTS mission.