The RV Technical Institute (RVTI) partnered with representatives of the Labs for Industry Transformation (LIFT) Network to host a small gathering of RV employers to discuss workforce training in depth, and highlight a recently registered U.S. Labor Department apprenticeship program for the RV Service Technician occupation.
Curtis Hemmeler, RVTI executive director, said the apprenticeship program was developed by RVTI with the Northern Indiana Workforce Board and enables RVTI to train workers within RV manufacturers to meet overall production outputs in the industry.
“Our industry has called for robust training offerings and RVTI is glad to provide our training as one solution to the talent needs,” Hemmeler said. “We are excited that the LIFT Network will also be identifying additional postsecondary training partners and collaborations to meet further needs of training for areas such as industrial maintenance, CNC machining and more as our industry continues to advance towards further innovative production practices.”
Representatives of the LIFT Network, the Northern Indiana Workforce Board and RVTI are working with companies to customize training programs for RV service technicians, industrial maintenance mechanics/technicians and more.
Jill Scicchitano, South Bend — Elkhart Regional Partnership chief operation officer, said the LIFT Network is excited to see demand from employers for registered apprenticeship programs.
“While we have launched registered apprenticeships for roles such as Robotics Technicians and Industrial Maintenance Mechanics,” Scicchitano said, “establishing apprenticeship programs within RV OEM companies will address a key employer segment of our regional economy.
Scicchitano said RV manufacturing accounts for nearly 30% of regional occupations within the manufacturing sector. Moving the needle with large OEM employers will signal positive changes for other employers in the region, RV-segmented or concentrated in another segment, she said.
Currently, companies are eligible to apply for training subsidies of up to $5,000 per apprentice within LIFT Network-approved training programs.
