Truckee Meadows Community College and Panasonic Energy Join Together to Promote Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Nevada
New training program creates opportunity for short-term training in high-demand job field
Reno, Nev. – Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and Panasonic Energy of North America announced a new workforce development program set to offer training in advanced manufacturing, production, automation, and robotics and further create opportunities for skilled employment in the northern Nevada job market. Together, TMCC and Panasonic Energy aim to support economic development in Nevada and help trainees gain entry into the growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.
The Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA) battery manufacturing facility workforce includes entry level and advanced-skill operators and maintenance technicians. Beginning in Fall 2023, PENA and TMCC are partnering to provide introductory training for students looking to enter the in-demand fields of advanced manufacturing, production systems, automation, and robotics. Students who complete the program may be eligible for hire in entry-level roles for competitive hourly rates.
Students interested in getting started with short-term training through the Advanced Manufacturing FastTrack program will begin courses at the TMCC William N. Pennington Applied Technology Center on Edison Way. Four courses are available for Fall 2023, including ELM 140 (Industrial Robotics I), MPT 101 (Basics of Operations and Maintenance), MPT 135 (Material Handling), and OSH 222 (General Industry Safety). Two of the courses are available to complete online to provide flexibility participating in the program. PENA is collaborating with TMCC on an Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (ATM Center) where these training courses will be held in the future.
“Panasonic Energy is committed to being an employer of choice in Nevada and investing in education and talent development is a top priority,” said Allan Swan, President of Panasonic Energy of North America. “TMCC has been a phenomenal partner since we’ve been in the community and together we are dedicated to developing an American workforce and creating opportunities that help meet production demand, build a domestic supply chain, and make EVs more accessible.”
This program is possible due to monetary contributions from the TMCC Foundation and Panasonic Energy for tuition and funding from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development (GOED) through the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) Fund and the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) for a full-time TMCC instructor.
“The TMCC Foundation is providing general tuition support for participants who are not employed, and Panasonic has committed to providing tuition reimbursement for their current employees and for those who are hired at the completion of the program,” said TMCC Foundation Executive Director Gretchen Sawyer. “Other companies are being approached to provide tuition reimbursement as well. We are excited about the opportunity to support students as they train for these positions.”
“GOED is focused on investing in accessible and innovative training that cannot come at a better time,” said Stacey Bostwick, GOED Director of Workforce Development. “The skills required for today's career paths are the key to stability and mobility for all Nevadans to benefit from the good jobs created by effective economic development strategy.”
With a focus on supporting students through Adult Basic Education, English as a Second Language (ESL), and career success classes, TMCC and the AMT Center will meet its trainees’ needs for career preparation, job attainment and sustainability. This community-based center will add a vital access point to students and employers alike.
Interested students can contact Pat Jarvis, Grant Manager, at the TMCC Applied Technology Center at [email protected] or 775-674-7690.
About TMCC
Truckee Meadows Community College is a comprehensive community college located in Reno, Nev., and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. With four college sites and more than 20 community locations, TMCC serves more than 16,000 students each year in state-supported programs and another 9,600 students in non-credit workforce development classes. For more information, please go to www.tmcc.edu.
Dandini Campus, 7000 Dandini Blvd., Reno, Nevada, 89512 | 775-673-7111 | www.tmcc.edu
Nevada System of Higher Education | Dedicated to Equal Opportunity
About Panasonic Energy of North America
Panasonic Energy of North America (PENA), a Division of Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., manufactures lithium-ion batteries in Sparks, Nevada, and employs more than 4,000 people. PENA’s mission is to contribute to a clean energy society by manufacturing the world’s safest, highest-quality batteries, developing an American workforce with skills in a high-tech growth industry, and changing society's use and perception of electric powered transportation.
About the Panasonic Group
Founded in 1918, and today a global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022 with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. The Group reported consolidated net sales of 8,378.9 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2023. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit: https://holdings.panasonic/global/