This fall, Vermilion Advantage partnered with Skyepack to bring knowledge of local jobs to area students.
Nearly 18 months ago, Tim Dudley and Nicole Van Hyfte from Vermilion Advantage were in Lafayette, Indiana, where they heard about a locally based company and their relationship with the Lafayette community. That company was Skyepack. As Skyepack CEO Eric Davis explains, he worked nine years in K through 12 education himself and saw many students that did not go to a four-year college, or perhaps did without any career path in mind. And he realized something was missing.
Vermilion Advantage Executive Director Tim Dudley thought right away, this is what Vermilion County needs: a way to raise talented workers, let them know exactly where they could be working as adults, and give them the skills.
And as of Monday, October 3, the program was officially launched, right at the start of October’s Manufacturing Month. Vermilion Advantage Chamber Director Nicole Van Hyfte says the program will begin with Skyepack teaching local students, through videos and follow up field trips, what local industries are all about.
The Skyepack program in Vermilion County will at first be for those in 8th grade through high school. Schools signed up so far are Danville High School, Hoopeston Area High School, and Westville Junior High. The participating local manufacturers thus far as TK Crankshaft, TK Dynamic Components, Danville Metal Stamping, Fiberteq, Watchfire Signs, Greenwood Inc, and Hyster-Yale. The plan is to eventually teach younger kids in the area about these opportunities, go beyond local manufacturing, and involve local health care, education, retail, and more.
