Gateway Technical College will host a manufacturing exposition 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at its SC Johnson integrated Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Center in Sturtevant to help celebrate – and inform – communities of the strong manufacturing base in the area and solid career opportunities that are part of it.

This second annual event, part of the state’s Manufacturing Month celebration, is free and marks the first time the public is invited to the event held at the center, located at 2320 Renaissance Blvd. The public can speak one-on-one with manufacturing companies and the items they produce. Gateway instructors will be on hand to provide demonstrations of manufacturing labs and equipment which prepare people for careers in manufacturing.

“Those seeking a career change, seeking employment, looking to enter a solid-paying and highly-skilled career or simply curious about our world-class manufacturers and what they produce should consider attending the event,” says Debbie Davidson, Vice President Gateway Workforce and Economic Development Division.

Middle and high school students will tour the facility in October as part of Manufacturing Month events including the mornings of Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 when they will have an opportunity to attend the expo.

To help highlight the careers manufacturing offers, and to reaffirm the importance of manufacturers to our state’s economy, Governor Scott Walker proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin.

According to Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the average pay for a manufacturing worker in Wisconsin is $53,000 per year, more than $10,000 per year higher than the average pay for all Wisconsin private-sector workers. In addition, manufacturing contributes more than $53 billion to Wisconsin’s economic output.

Manufacturing Expo Tours were planned collaboratively by Gateway Technical College, the Racine Unified School, Kenosha Unified School District, the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, Kenosha County Job Center, Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce, Racine County Economic Development Corporation, Racine County Workforce Development Center, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Walworth County Job Center and several local manufacturers.