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

PETOSKEY, Mich. – (November 5, 2026) – The America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with North Central Michigan College (NCMC) 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. 

NCMC 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.  

“Expanding ACE’s network to North Central Michigan College will create more opportunities for students, job seekers and current manufacturing professionals to develop the skills needed for careers in CNC machining,” said Elliot Keas, ACE program director at IACMI. “By combining industry-aligned curriculum with hands-on training, this partnership will help strengthen the pipeline of skilled machinists and support the long-term competitiveness of 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. 

NCMC’s partnership with ACE includes plans to provide training for 100 participants for week-long, hands-on, in-person bootcamps focused on CNC machining and Metrology throughout the contract period. Participants will come from the general public, industry and student population. NCMC may also provide K-12 workshops, industry engagement activities and community outreach events as part of its contract with ACE.

“This partnership connects Northern Michigan to a national network of manufacturing expertise, technology and workforce development,” said Cassandra Hernandez, dean of Workforce and Continuing Education at North Central Michigan College. “By bringing ACE’s resources together with our faculty expertise and employer relationships, we’re expanding access to advanced training and strengthening the region’s capacity to develop manufacturing talent. It reflects our commitment to building partnerships that turn community investment into lasting opportunity.”

Earlier this year, 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. 

NCMC’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 industry partnerships, please contact North Central Michigan College’s Workforce and Continuing Education department:

Workforce and Continuing Education
Cassandra Hernandez, Dean
Email: chernandez@ncmich.edu
Phone: 231-348-6613

For more information about ACE, 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 North Central Michigan College
North Central Michigan College is an open-door community college based in Petoskey with additional offerings in Cheboygan, Gaylord and online. North Central’s mission is to provide exceptional, accessible, relevant higher education to the benefit of all. An Achieving the Dream Leader College with a designation of Veteran Friendly Silver by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, North Central is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association and the Michigan Community College Athletic Association. Learn more at www.ncmich.edu.