Tri-C to Dedicate Citizens Bank Mobile Training Unit

June 15 ceremony recognizes bank’s ongoing support of students and programs

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) has received $60,000 from Citizens Bank in year one of a multi-year commitment supporting the College’s new mobile manufacturing training unit.

The Citizens Bank Mobile Training Unit will bring award-winning programs from Tri-C’s Manufacturing Technology Center of Excellence to the doorsteps of Northeast Ohio companies and schools in nine counties. It houses a versatile lab area for hands-on training and a classroom space with 10 desk stations, a whiteboard and video system.

The 53-foot-long trailer allows the College to offer customized programs at client sites, increasing access to essential training to address the region’s manufacturing skills gap. Programs include CNC machining, welding, 3D printing and programmable logic controllers, with others in development.

The mobile unit is scheduled for upcoming training use at Cleveland-area General Motors plants. It has also been showcased at workforce events such as the recent IndustryWeek Manufacturing and Technology Conference and Expo in Cleveland and visited area high schools and community organizations.

“Tri-C is a valued community partner, and we are proud to support this unique educational resource,” said Mike Shiplett, Ohio market executive at Citizens Bank. “This investment will bring advanced, hands-on training to many who may have not have had the opportunity without it. This is an investment in job training and the local economy in Northeast Ohio.”

The gift for the mobile unit builds on the bank’s long-standing partnership with the College. Citizens Bank has contributed more than $135,000 to Tri-C for various programs.

“Citizens Bank has always had a deep commitment to enhancing our region’s economic prosperity,” said Alex Johnson, president of Cuyahoga Community College. “This new gift will enable Tri-C to reach out to students, communities and organizations to expand access to advanced manufacturing training opportunities.”

In recognition of the bank’s support of Tri-C students and programs, the College will dedicate the Citizens Bank Mobile Training Unit at noon on Thursday, June 15, at Tri-C’s Advanced Technology Training Center, located at 3409 Woodland Ave. in Cleveland.

Bruce Van Saun, chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial Group, and Shiplett will be in attendance at the ceremony, as will officials from the College’s workforce program. A virtual welding demonstration will take place inside the mobile unit.

June 14, 2017

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu