Partnership expands the pipeline of skilled machinists through industry-aligned training and hands-on learning

ALPENA, Mich. (October 6, 2026) – The America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) program, led by IACMI – The Composites  Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Alpena Community College (ACC) to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective machining and manufacturing professionals.  

Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy,  ACE helps revitalize the U.S. machining industry by fostering innovative technology  development and workforce training. 

ACC will implement ACE’s nationally recognized curriculum in its program, which includes free  online and hands-on CNC machining training with public bootcamps.  

ACE connects top national experts with students and incumbent industrial workers from all  backgrounds, levels of education, and work experience to catalyze awareness and interest in all  facets of machining, including software development, metrology, design, operation, and  entrepreneurship.  

In addition to adult training, these programs will lead outreach efforts for K–12 students by  offering workshops on campus and at regional K-12 schools.  

“America’s Cutting Edge is excited to partner with Alpena Community College and build on the  strong foundation already established through its Machine Tool Technology program,” said Elliot  Keas, ACE program director at IACMI. “Alpena’s students are learning valuable hands-on  experience and technical skills, and this partnership will help expand those opportunities while  preparing the next generation of highly skilled machinists for American manufacturing.” 

ACE uses free online and in-person, hands-on training to connect top national experts with  students and incumbent industrial workers from all backgrounds, levels of education, and work  experience to catalyze awareness and interest in all facets of machining, including software  development, metrology, design, operation, and entrepreneurship. 

ACC’s partnership with ACE includes plans to: 

• Provide training for 110 participants for week-long, hands-on, in-person bootcamps  focused on CNC machining throughout the contract period. Participants will come from  the general public, industry and student population. 
• Provide K-12 workshops, engagement activities and outreach events, reaching at least  200 participants. 
• Offer twice-yearly industry tours for bootcamp participants to explore potential  employers. 
• Host recruitment fairs connecting attendees with industry job opportunities. 

Earlier this summer, IACMI announced plans to expand ACE and METAL, another workforce  development program focused on casting and forging, to 53 new locations at universities,  colleges, and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100.  Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities. 

ACE’s partnership with ACC is part of the Michigan Maritime Manufacturing (M3) Initiative, a  state initiative that spans the U.S. Navy, Office of the Secretary of War, state/local/federal  governments and a network of hundreds of defense industry, labor and academic organizations  across Michigan. The M3 Initiative will implement pipelines and programs targeted at meeting  the U.S. Navy’s demand for thousands of new workers and jobs across the state and broader  region.  

ACC’s addition to the ACE network strengthens a growing national network of four dozen  partners, including high schools, trade schools, community colleges and universities. Together,  these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable,  and sustainable workforce development programs. 

For more information on registering for a bootcamp or becoming an industry partner, please  contact Andrew Paad, ACC manufacturing technology instructor, at paada@alpenacc.edu or visit the ACC America’s Cutting Edge webpage.  

For more information about ACE at ACC, please contact: 

Sarah Pope 

Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com 

Phone: 865-329-0553  

About ACE 

America’s Cutting Edge, supported by the U.S. Department of War (DoW) Industrial Base  Analysis and Sustainment program, is a national training program designed to reestablish  American leadership in the machine tools and composites manufacturing industries through  transformative thinking, technological innovation, and workforce development. The curriculum  combines advanced training and techniques from the University of Tennessee, the scientific  expertise of the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge 

National Laboratory and the proven workforce development capabilities of IACMI-The  Composites Institute.  

About IACMI 

IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on  advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of  Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry,  academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development. 

About Alpena Community College 

Alpena Community College provides affordable higher education in Northeast Michigan to  students with diverse backgrounds and academic goals. Each semester, ACC educates  approximately 1,500 students spread between campuses in Alpena and Oscoda, along with  students taking advantage of the college’s distance learning offerings. In addition to providing  two-year degrees and one-year certificates in over 75 programs of study, ACC offers a  bachelor’s degree program in electrical systems technology, customized workforce training,  continuing education courses, dual-enrollment studies for area high school students,  cooperative on-campus four-year degree programs, and community education.