More than 1,000 people have been trained for entry-level manufacturing jobs through a partnership between Southern Maine Community College and General Dynamics Bath Iron Works that was launched in 2018.
The Manufacturing Technician Training Program celebrated its 100th graduating class last week during a ceremony at SMCC’s midcoast campus in Brunswick.
The three-week program provides 120 hours of hands-on training and was created to address the demand for skilled workers at BIW, a large shipyard that employs thousands of people to design, build and maintain vessels for the U.S. Navy.
Company officials say program graduates tend to move more quickly into production roles and, in some cases, advance into higher-skilled positions over time.
“This milestone reflects the power of partnership and what can be accomplished when education and industry come together with a shared purpose,” said Kristen Miller, president of SMCC, part of the Maine Community College System.
“Each cohort represents individuals building meaningful careers and strengthening Maine’s workforce,” she added. “We are proud to stand alongside GDBIW and our partners to create opportunities that have a lasting impact on our students, their families and communities across the state.”
The program’s financial backers include the Harold Alfond Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce and the University of Maine’s Advanced Manufacturing Center.
In a list of Maine’s largest private employers published in the 2026 Mainebiz Book of Lists, BIW is ranked fourth.
