Sacramento manufacturing program opens doors — but needs funds to continue

The Abridged version:

• Project IGNITE offers students in the Sacramento area who did not have access to state-of-the-art career technical education an opportunity to explore the world of manufacturing.
• But with the program’s one-time grant money sunsetting, the future of Project IGNITE remains uncertain. Leaders said they are actively searching for other funding opportunities.
• Industry experts said there is a growing need for young workers with manufacturing skills and hands-on experience.

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A Sacramento area program that lets underserved students explore the world of manufacturing, with hands-on training in subjects like robotics, 3D printing and soldering, just finished a successful first semester.  

Program instructors hope their inaugural cohort is not also their last. 

“We want to assume it will continue,” said George Suarez, the program’s lead instructor and trained engineer. 

While many high schools today feature high caliber career courses, students at less-resourced campuses may not have access to the same state-of-the-art machinery, tools and instructors. 

Project IGNITE — Investigating Growth Needs in Inclusive Technical Education — was a way to fill that gap and bring quality learning to communities otherwise left behind, Suarez said. 

But with the initiative’s grant funding good for just this initial year, its ability to reach more students is in question. 

Manufacturing ‘in very small bites’ 

Despite the uncertainty, program leaders, participants and parents were jubilant last week at an end-of-year student showcase marking graduation from Project IGNITE for 26 students.

During the event, hosted at Aggie Square on the UC Davis Sacramento campus, class projects like a phone stand made from sheet metal were on display, and each student received certificates, including one from state Sen. Angelique Ashby’s office. 

Sixteen of the participating students attended Suarez’s class at Capital College and Career Academy, a charter school in Sacramento, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The other 10 hailed from five different high schools and attended class each Saturday. 

Within five months, students gained 100 hours of training. Their education was a buffet of curriculum including computer-aided design, the basics of robotics, cost estimating and tours of industry facilities. 

“The whole point of the project was to expose students to everything about manufacturing in very small bites,” Suarez said. 

Greater need for manufacturing education 

Industry leaders at the event emphasized the growing need for well-trained young workers. 

“Technology is changing so rapidly right now,” said Roy Ingram, professor of mechatronics at Sierra College. “What you’re doing with this Project IGNITE is you’re accelerating that learning process.” 

And there are likely more technical job opportunities on the horizon, according to Rob Sanger, a program manager at SEMI, a global manufacturing trade association. 

“There’s lots of jobs that are going to go away because of (artificial intelligence),” Sanger said. “Especially in your traditional four-year degree.” 

“All the Amazon warehouses, right, there’s not going to be people anymore in there. There’s going to be robots,” Sanger continued. “And somebody’s got to fix the robots.” 

Funding future in question

Project IGNITE is spearheaded by Aura Planning, a local community development organization, and Green Tech, a Sacramento nonprofit focused on providing underserved youth with clean energy education and training. 

Suarez, vice president of engineering and workforce development at Aura Planning, said they have already received messages from students interested in taking the class next year. 

Future ideas to expand the program include opening spots for students who are later in life and mid-career.   

But first, they need resources to make it to another year. 

Project IGNITE was one of 22 projects in the Sacramento region to receive a grant via the California Jobs First Act. But that money was a one-time deal, meaning the education initiative’s leaders are scouring for other grants or funding opportunities. 

‘Opportunity and confidence’

Students in the program had the chance to tour sites like Roseville Precision Inc., where they witnessed manufacturing designing and building processes firsthand. And they could picture themselves in that space, said Angelina Moradzadeh, founder and president of Aura Planning. 

In an exit survey, 84% of participating students said the tours changed how they saw manufacturing. Almost 3 of 4 students said they now have a greater interest in the career field. 

Moradzadeh said the goal of Project IGNITE is to build long-term trust between students and employers. That means giving young adults the hard skills companies are looking for, plus building a student’s belief in their own abilities. 

“Sometimes the only thing that is missing is opportunity and confidence,” Moradzadeh said.   

Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged team and contribute to a crucial local news source.