Reception and Technology Demo Set for Apr. 22

MCC will host a public reception and a technology demonstration on Wednesday, April 22, to celebrate its recent $4.1 million grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Community College Skilled Trades Equipment Program.

The free event takes place at 1:30 p.m. in Gerber Lounge on campus. MCC instructors will demonstrate existing technologies and explain how new equipment funded by the grant will benefit MCC students and local companies. Refreshments will be provided.

Since the award was announced last month, MCC has solidified plans for equipment purchases, with $3.7 million being funded by the grant, to furnish its Downtown Center. Located in the former Muskegon Chronicle building, the facility is currently being renovated to house the bulk of programs that are part of the College’s Applied Technology Department.

Existing programs that will benefit from the investment include Machining, Welding, Materials/Foundry, Electronics, and Computer Aided Design.  New programs that will receive funding for equipment purchases include Mechatronics/Automation/Robotics and Plastic Technologies.

The remaining $400,000 grant funds will be used to furnish the college’s new Agricultural and Mechatronics programs at the Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency’s new Career Tech Center, located at the former Providence Christian High School.

“We are extremely excited by this investment in equipment which will allow us to bring our teaching to the current world of advanced manufacturing,” noted Tom Martin, chair of MCC‘s Applied Technology department, who will also be present to answer questions.

For more information, contact Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, Dean of Workforce & Talent Development at Muskegon Community College, at (231) 777-0569, or by email at dan.rinsema-sybenga@muskegoncc.edu.