Starbase owner Burton Francis showed the students around the shop, explaining what the company does.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — McCann Technical School students have gotten a glimpse into their own futures.

 

Students in McCann's manufacturing programs on Wednesday toured Pittsfield's Starbase Technologies, where they saw the same technology they learn on at school being used on a commercial scale.

 

"It is important for the students to see what they are learning in the shop looks like in a real world setting," said Principal Justin Kratz.

 

"In addition to that, it is important for them to see that these opportunities exist in Berkshire County. What they are learning at McCann can be used in careers right here in Berkshire County."

 

The trip is one small part of the state's push to increase manufacturing. Mass Development granted Berkshire Community College funds to promote the manufacturing field through the AMP It Up program.

 

BCC also sponsored Taconic students on a trip to Interprint. BCC has received $18,000 from the program over the last two years to promote manufacturing.

 

"We were able to use AMP It Up funds to pay for transportation and we have some take away items for the students. The Amp It Up grant is issued through Mass Development to promote manufacturing as a viable career pathway for young people," said Denise Johns, BCC's director of corporate training. 

 

Starbase owner Burton Francis, who founded the molding company 26 years ago, said he has noticed a turnaround in the level of interest in manufacturing. Very few people wanted to go into the field just a few years ago.

 

Leading the student through the shop, Francis hopes the students see that manufacturing isn't like it used to be.

 

"This is much cleaner, more technical than your typical machine shop. With that approach, I think a lot more people will give it a try," Francis said.

 

The company specializes in making molds for such things as pens and laundry detergent caps to even airplane parts. The work requires a certain set of skills and Francis said experience means a lot.

 

"McCann Tech does a phenomenal job in introducing the people to the knowledge necessary to build machine parts. With that, it makes it a lot easier to bring kids in and have them get on a fast track," Francis said.

 

That is what BCC too is hoping to give prospective students. BCC's corporate training and workforce development tries to keep a close relationship with area employers so they can customize their classes to fit those needs. 

 

Johns said through groups like the Berkshire Applied Technology Council, the school can boost their programming. Many of the employees at Starbase had gone through BCC's manufacturing tech program, Johns said.

 

McCann too has an advisory committee and connections with local businesses to help build the workforce of tomorrow.

 

"There is a ton of potential," Kratz said.