Record attendance for annual ManuFest
New venue, date attract 1,200 students
NORRISTOWN >> A record number of students and exhibitors participated in ManuFest and More 2019, held March 12 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks.
“This event absolutely exceeded our expectations. We couldn’t have asked for more,” Jennifer Butler, executive director of MontcoWorks, told the Montgomery County Commissioners n Thursday.
More than 1,200 students from 26 Montgomery County schools moved through 70 regional manufacturing and building trades exhibits throughout the day — exhibits that showcased the businesses through product demonstrations, interactive activities and handon STEM-related activities.
In previous years, the event attracted about 200 students and 40 exhibitors, according to Butler.
ManuFest helps students explore their potential future in manufacturing and construction related fields — both in demand career pathways in the county.
“Our employers across the county say that while they are making sure they are in a position to sustain their workforce, they also need to think about growing their future workforce,” Butler added.
Information was available at ManuFest about high paying jobs available in manufacturing and construction trades and the skills needed to obtain them.
“We want students to consider these careers as options, to go to school for these options and to plan a career around these options,” Butler told the commissioners. “We are a net importer of workers — we have more jobs than workforce,” Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh said. “It is critically important to expose students to all possible in demand and well-paying jobs in the county. I am really excited about this program.”
Some changes were made this year to the annual oneday ManuFest event — changes that contributed to the higher level of participation.
ManuFest was expanded to include exhibits not just from manufacturers but the building trades as well, a request Butler said was made by organizations in the building trades.
The event was held this year on a weekday, rather than on a Saturday. The final change was the venue. ManuFest was moved to the Expo Center at Oaks after the facility offered the space to MontcoWorks.
Planning is already underway for ManuFest and More 2020, Butler said, adding that organizers would like to keep the number of exhibitors about the same.
“We are definitely planning to continue this format for 2020 as feedback from our educators and exhibitors has been tremendously positive,” she said. “As the event aligns so well with our schools’ career readiness indicators, any changes we make will be around accommodating a high volume of students.”
In addition to ManuFest and More, Butler said planning has just begun on a new job fair — planned for the fall — and focused on jobs in health care.
“This is another in demand area. We see value in getting students in the same room to talk about the jobs that are available to them in the county,” Butler said, adding that planning is in the very early stages. “I’m working to put together a committee of educators and employers.”