Southern Indiana Business Report
ORANGE COUNTY — The Orange County Economic Development Partnership (OCEDP) hosted Orange County’s annual Manufacturing Day Oct. 22, giving eighth-grade students from Orleans, Paoli and Springs Valley schools a firsthand look at the world of modern manufacturing.
Apryl Kidd, director of COSMOS, shared that “Manufacturing Day is more than a field trip – it’s an investment in our students’ futures and our community’s workforce. By opening their doors, local employers are showing students the many pathways available right here in Orange County and inspiring the next generation of makers, problem-solvers, and innovators.”
Students toured Pluto Corporation, AnoPRO LLC, National Water Services, Envision Designs and Jasper Group, where they explored real-world applications of innovation, technology and skilled trades. The students were split into groups and each group was able to tour two businesses.
Additional hands-on learning took place at the Orange County Community Center, featuring exhibits and demonstrations from Pluto Corporation, Cook Medical, the Uplands Maker Mobile, Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington, and Vincennes University’s Center for Applied Robotics and Automation.
“Manufacturing Day is a true collaboration of our county school systems and industry partners as they work together to inspire the next generation while highlighting the vital role of manufacturing in our local economy,” said Skylar Whiteman, OCEDP’s executive director. “We look forward to this event every year as part of OCEDP’s commitment to workforce development and youth engagement.”
