Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK) announced the recipients of its first “Empower Makers” Global Impact Challenge. Goodwin University has been named as a Makers Grant Recipient and will received a grant of $100,000 for its initiative to fund training experiences at two community manufacturing training centers in Hartford.

Initiated in 2021, the Global Impact Challenge grant program will award up to $25 million in grant funding over the next five years to nonprofits that are supporting trade workforce development initiatives in the construction and manufacturing sectors. With the first applications submitted in October 2021, 240 entrants were evaluated based on number of people served, outcomes projected, sustainable impact, depth of programs, and diversity, among many other considerations. Goodwin University was selected as one of 86 organizations that will help skill and reskill roughly 180,000 makers throughout 2022.

The training centers planned by Goodwin will deliver introductory manufacturing skills workshops in CNC machining and quality inspections with related skills sets like blueprint reading, measuring tools, shop math, and computer-aided manufacturing and design. They will also provide instruction in the use of welding simulators, basics in mechatronics, quality assurance, and logistics skills. The preference locations for these centers will be in high-traffic, walkable neighborhoods for easier access to the training for area residents to explore career skills and opportunities in manufacturing.

“The Makers Grant will have an incredible impact on the lives of Connecticut residents looking to become part of the state’s manufacturing workforce,” said Dr. Cliff Thermer, Assistant Vice President for Strategy and Business Development and Dean of the School of Business, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing at the University. “We have always advocated for community outreach in our programs, and these resources will allow us to put true hands-on training in the neighborhoods where it will do the greatest good. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity.”

Goodwin plans to host continuing education type workshops at the centers utilizing the 180 Skills training platform through the University’s learning management system, providing a host of technical and career preparedness training under the watchful mentorship of faculty and staff. Participants who successfully complete these workshops may earn evidence of completion certificates from the University. Goodwin will maintain office hours at the centers where outreach and enrollment staff will be available to share information about additional programs and resources on the East Hartford campus. These staff will also offer periodic informational presentations and workshops that are marketed in the neighborhoods to share educational and career options with residents.

“Stanley Black & Decker is immensely proud to support Goodwin University as they work to skill and reskill the next generation of trade professionals,” said Stanley Black & Decker Vice President of Social Impact Diane Cantello. “Currently in the U.S., there are an estimated 650,000 open construction jobs and 10 million unfilled manufacturing jobs globally. Our purpose is to support ‘Those Who Make the World,’ and being able to fund educational programs and non-profits that are revitalizing trade careers directly connects to our core mission. Thanks to this year’s Makers Grant Recipients, together we will be one step closer to closing the trade skills gap.”

The University website provides information on the University’s manufacturing programs as well as apprenticeships and incumbent worker training opportunities.

To learn more about Stanley Black & Decker’s “Empower Makers” Global Impact Challenge, please visit EmpowerMakers.com.