The Dow Chemical Co. will expand the Dow U.S. Apprenticeship Program to include two Louisiana manufacturing facilities, Louisiana Operations in Plaquemine and St. Charles Operations in Hahnville, in 2016.
This program is targeted toward men and women interested in pursuing careers as instrument electrical technicians, process technicians or millwrights.
In addition to the two Louisiana locations, the Dow sites participating in this program include Freeport, Bayport, Lone Star, La Porte and Seadrift in Texas; Pittsburg, California; and Midland, Michigan. In 2015, Dow hired 50 apprentices who are currently training for roles as instrument electrical technicians or process technicians.
Through a partnership between Dow and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, these apprentices will work toward their associate degree while acquiring three years of world-class training and on-the-job experience. During this time, the apprentices will have their tuition funded by Dow, and they will receive a competitive salary that increases incrementally over their tenure in the program. Upon completion of the program, apprentices will be evaluated for employment opportunities at Dow.
“Dow is a longstanding partner of Louisiana’s community and technical colleges, and today’s announcement further demonstrates their commitment to building Louisiana’s workforce and investing in our students,” says Monty Sullivan, president of LCTCS. “The Dow U.S. Apprenticeship program is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Louisianans to gain the instructional and hands-on experience required to secure meaningful and sustainable employment in today’s economy. We are honored to continue working with Dow to meet their workforce needs and the needs of our students.”
The Dow U.S. Apprenticeship Program is about building the workforce of tomorrow and opportunity.
“We are excited to be offering the Dow U.S. Apprenticeship Program in Louisiana and look forward to training these apprentices as they grow within Dow and gain real life experience,” says Eduardo Do Val, Dow Louisiana Operations site director. “We could not do this without the great public-private partnership between Dow and LCTCS and the prioritization of an advanced manufacturing agenda which has the power to create jobs, value and growth within our communities to a degree that no other sector can. Every manufacturing job created has a multiplier in the range of three to five jobs across the rest of the economy. This program allows us, with our partners, to build a talent pipeline in difficult-to-fill technical roles that supports manufacturing growth in the U.S. and on the Gulf Coast.”
Dow’s first class of apprentices in Louisiana will start work this fall. The company expects to hire approximately 20 apprentices in 2016, training participants as chemical process operators, instrument electrical technicians and millwrights. Dow’s apprenticeship program will supplement existing company-sponsored training programs for those technical specialties.
“This is about more than just filling jobs. It is about offering individuals the training and experience they need to establish attractive, long-term careers that will position them for future success. This program clearly aligns with Dow’s ongoing commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) initiatives and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, which fuels America’s competiveness,” says Johnny Chavez, St. Charles Operations site director.
The Dow U.S. Apprenticeship Program supports a major initiative of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, a national effort to secure U.S. leadership in emerging technologies by creating high-quality manufacturing jobs and enhancing America’s global competitiveness. Learn more about Dow’s U.S. Apprenticeship Program at careersatdow.com.
Originally published in the second quarter 2016 edition of 10/12 Industry Report.
