Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney honors National Manufacturers Day with a visit to PTR Baler & Compactor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PRWEB) October 14, 2016 -- On Friday, October 7th, PTR hosted the event at their Philadelphia facility, where they lead the industry in manufacturing American-made waste and recycling equipment. The family run business holds American job growth and community development at the core of their values. Mayor Jim Kenney led the roundtable discussion with Philadelphia secondary school students. Councilman Mark Squilla, the Philadelphia School District, Ben Franklin High School, the Commerce Department, and Baldini Middle School came together for a discussion on strengthening the pipeline for manufacturing students and co-op programs across the city.
“Today’s roundtable at PTR Baler was extremely informative,” said the Mayor. “Continuing these types of conversations with our students, instructors and employers will be critical in strengthening the manufacturing pipeline in Philadelphia.”
There were many goals for the event. One was to spark student interest in vocational education and educate them on the positive impact it could have on their futures. Another was to create a plan of action for the continued growth of manufacturing in Philadelphia.
The event, entitled, "Building the Manufacturing Pipeline: Effective Partnerships Yielding Tangible Results," was held on National Manufacturing Day; a time where American manufacturing can be celebrated and the next generation can be inspired. Every first Friday in October has been a day to honor the positive impact manufacturing has had on the economy as well as a time to plan for the future. It was the perfect chance for PTR to educate and inform students on the importance of manufacturing in America and the career opportunities it can provide for them. Students, city officials and industry professionals discussed the expansion of manufacturing opportunities in Philadelphia and what must be done to fortify the manufacturing pipeline in the city and the surrounding region.
Steve Jurash, of the Manufacturers Alliance of the Greater Philadelphia Region, was a key player in creating this event by encouraging government officials, school administrators and manufacturers to participate. “This roundtable was an excellent opportunity to bring classroom and factory together in a way that allowed kids to see elements of modern advanced manufacturing," said Jurash. "That the mayor spent so much time with us today highlights how seriously this administration takes the task of improving the pipeline of trained manufacturing workers.”
It's clear the community recognizes the need to refocus efforts on growing modern manufacturing and that proper vocational training for students will be critical in achieving this. Since the city’s first Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Center at Benjamin Franklin High School was initiated in 2015, there has been a renewed interest in vocational programs in schools. This fall The Community College of Philadelphia will roll out its new Advanced Manufacturing programs. PTR has led the way by providing resources, donations and scholarships to students throughout the community.
After the discussion, students were given a tour of PTR Baler & Compactor facilities. Students were able to see how a successful full-scale manufacturing facility operates on a daily basis.
PTR understands the importance of vocational programs on workforce development in Philadelphia and bringing jobs back to the U.S. They've taken the lead in supporting vocational programs in schools. Following the event, PTR CEO Mike Savage said, “Today’s roundtable highlighted the need for us to stay focused on the pipeline for manufacturing students and technical high schools across the City. We were honored to host the Mayor and so many institutions who can collaborate on this very important initiative that will benefit us now and in the future."
PTR Baler & Company is a leading industry manufacturer of waste and recycling equipment. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, they have been serving the market for more than 45 years with the highest quality product and unparalleled customer service. PTR has always been fully dedicated to keeping and growing American jobs, serving the community, and providing support for future generations to continue their mission.
To learn more about PTR Baler & Compactor, visit their YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/PTRBalerAndCompactor
Joe Bennett, PTR Baler & Compactor, http://www.ptrco.com, +1 (215) 533-5100, [email protected]
Share this article