The Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) announced the industry partners who will participate in the 2018 GenZ Connection: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing summer internship program. The businesses are: SCHWING America, Mold Craft, Renstrom Dental Studios, Pace Industries, LasX Industries, Superior Machine, The Specialty Mfg Co, and Team Vantage. Each business will host four White Bear Lake High School Manufacturing Pathway students to 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.

SCHWING America: SCHWING America, White Bear Township, is a manufacturer and distributor of premium concrete production and handling equipment.

Mold Craft: Mold Craft, Willernie, offers complete injection mold manufacturing services ranging from design to prototyping to tooling.

Renstrom Dental Studios: Renstrom Dental Studios, Vadnais Heights, is an advanced, comprehensive dental lab.

Pace Industries: Pace Industries, Arden Hills, is an integrated company that provides quality die casting, manufacturing, and engineering solutions worldwide.

LasX: LasX, White Bear Lake, designs, manufactures and installs complete laser system solutions built to specification.

Superior Machine: Superior Machine, White Bear Lake, provides high quality CNC machined parts for medical, technology, motorsports, aerospace and specialty machine building industries.

The Specialty Mfg Co: The Specialty Mfg Co, White Bear Township, are specialists in manufacturing metal and plastic valves that are essential components for a wide range of applications

Teamvantage: Teamvantage, Forest Lake, is a custom contract manufacturer and injection molder.

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

The expansion of the 2018 GenZ program from four to eight industry partners to provide 8 internships represents significant growth of the program. The White Bear Lake Area Education Foundation will be providing funding for steel-toed work boots for all student participants. Ling Becker, VHEDC Executive Director, says, “This program is absolutely crucial to growing a strong and sustainable manufacturing workforce in the Northeast Metro area. There is so much to be done to increase the awareness of opportunities to youth and their parents. We are so very grateful to the many industry partners who make this possible.”

The GenZ Connection: Skills and Careers in Manufacturing program is funded by VHEDC with sponsorship support from businesses that participate in VHEDC fundraising activities. Most recently Comcast announced it would be the Sponsoring Partner of the 2018 GenZ program with a $5,000 contribution. In addition, on May 22, Mold Craft — a 2017 and 2018 industry partner — presented VHEDC $3,000 to support the GenZ program, made available through a grant from the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA).

A 2018 GenZ kick-off event for students, families, business and community partners will take place at Jimmy’s Event Center, Vadnais Heights, May 30, 5 – 6:30 p.m.