Industry & Inclusion South

Background

Since 2020, Mechanism and The Century Foundation have been uniting manufacturing leaders through the Industry & Inclusion (I&I) Initiative to inspire local knowledge exchange and actions to make manufacturing hiring more dynamic. I&I helps workforce and education practitioners engage with one another and pilot new strategies rooted in best practices, to bring in workers from populations historically underrepresented in the sector.

The I&I South cohort focused on the American South, where prior federal investment accelerated renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, and where there’s a growing need to connect underrepresented communities to well-paying jobs.

The I&I South Initiative aimed to create pathways for economic mobility for workers (particularly those of color, people under 30, and women), where investments in EV, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing have recently landed.

Together, we will devised solutions to develop inclusive training programs; deepen relationships between employers and communities; and connect these institutions to national experts and to each other—all to create pathways for economic mobility for workers.

Participant Achievements

• Developed and implemented new tools for identifying and addressing student barriers earlier in the enrollment and onboarding process.
• Moved from informal approaches toward data-informed tracking and structured program design.
• Formalized new partnerships with employees and community organizations embedding hands-on learning and clear career pathways.
• Developed new recruitment resources to reach students who historically have been underrepresented in manufacturing.
• Saw meaningful increases in enrollment in manufacturing programs.

Program Activities

Through our cohort approach, the Mechanism team provides technical assistance; creates peer-learning space; builds connections to national experts and industrial partners; and supports implementation of new projects.

St. Petersburg College | St. Petersburg, FL

The Georgia Tech Industrial Training & Assessment Center | Atlanta, GA

Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) | Jackson, TN

Austin Community College | Austin, TX

College of the Albemarle | Elizabeth City, NC

Overall Program Reflections:

Workforce programs succeed when they start with the people they serve. The most impactful shift across institutions was moving from designing programs for students to designing them with students.

Access is about trust as much as awareness. Participants found that recruitment improves when institutions build relationships with parents, school counselors, faith communities, and local orgs—what several teams called “invisible influencers.”

Small operational changes can drive major equity outcomes. Things like clarifying pathways, aligning calendars for dual enrollment, and proactively identifying student barriers at onboarding made a real difference in enrollment and retention.

Strong partnerships are essential for workforce transformation. Programs were most successful when closely aligned with employers, embedded hands-on learning, and connected to regional economic development efforts.

The cohort model itself created a powerful community of practice. Participants consistently said that the most valuable part of the program was being in community with one another—through peer learning, shared problem-solving, and in-person gatherings.