The Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) announced Comcast Corporation has granted $5,000 to VHEDC for the 2018 GenZ Connection: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing summer internship program.

Comcast Corporation (headquartered in Philadelphia, PA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand. Comcast believes in investing in and partnering with individuals, programs and organizations that move communities forward through leadership, empowerment, technology and innovation.

“Technology is a powerful driver of innovation and economic growth and it’s critical that we nurture a strong STEM-related talent pool to help us achieve this growth,” said J.D. Keller, regional vice president, Comcast Twin Cities Region. “That’s why at Comcast we are proud to invest our resources in GenZ to help students realize the potential of technology, and its intersection with manufacturing, to solve problems, improve lives and create opportunity.”

The GenZ summer program was created in 2017 by VHEDC, White Bear Lake Area Schools (WBLAS), Ramsey County and other community partners to provide hands-on, paid internships for four White Bear Lake High School Manufacturing Career Pathway students at four Northeast Metro manufacturing firms. In January 2018, VHEDC received the Partnership Award by the Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) for this locally driven workforce initiative.

The 2018 GenZ Connection: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing program will expand to eight industry partners and eight WBL High School students: The businesses are: SCHWING America, Mold Craft, Renstrom Dental Studios, Pace Industries, LasX Industries, Superior Machine, The Specialty Mfg Co, and Teamvantage. The Manufacturing Pathway students will gain hands-on manufacturing skills through paid internships. These industry partners represent a wide variety of manufacturing processes and are located throughout the Northeast Metro area.

The GenZ program is funded by VHEDC with sponsorship support from businesses that participate in VHEDC fundraising activities. In addition to Comcast’s $5,000 contribution, Mold Craft — a 2017 and 2018 industry partner — recently presented $3,000 to VHEDC for the GenZ program; the funds were made available through a grant from the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA). Additionally, White Bear Lake Area Community Foundation will provide funding for steel-toed work boots for all student participants.

Ling Becker, VHEDC Executive Director, says, “Supporting and promoting partnerships between schools and industries aligns directly with VHEDC’s mission and vision, and we are so very grateful to Comcast and other industry and community partners who make the GenZ program possible.”

Becker added, “STEM as we know it is changing rapidly. Employers are recognizing the need to get a pipeline of workers faster and are leaning increasingly on 2-year and technical degrees rather than just four-year programs. The GenZ program allows high schools students to receive hands-on experiential learning experience in manufacturing. Prior to 2017, students under 18 were not able to operate any manufacturing machinery. Several of our businesses were key to making this possible through a change in legislation. We are also excited to say that our program’s participating students will be receiving credentialed training in OSHA 10 that is made possible through the generous support of Comcast.”