Austin Community College District (ACC) invites the community for a first in-person look at new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at ACC Highland Campus (6101 Highland Campus Dr.). The college hosts a Manufacturing Careers Expo to learn more about career opportunities and low-to-no-cost training programs.

Visitors will tour ACC’s brand-new facilities, view hands-on demonstrations, network with high-profile employers like Tesla and Samsung, and explore programs that prepare you to design, build, operate, and maintain manufacturing technologies and systems.

• Session 1: Thursday, July 8 | 4 - 6 p.m. 

• Session 2: Saturday, July 10 | 10 a.m. - noon 

The event includes a live panel with employers, faculty, and students to discuss the growing manufacturing sector in Central Texas. Visitors also will meet with faculty from ACC’s manufacturing training programs:

• Advanced Manufacturing, 

• Architectural and Engineering Computer Aided Design, 

• Geographic Information Systems, and 

• Welding. 

Employers, including Samsung, Applied Materials, Flex, and Tesla, also will attend. 

About Manufacturing in CTX

In Central Texas, there are more than 1,600 manufacturing businesses and it accounts for 65,000 jobs. According to the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, Texas manufacturing executives are struggling to fill open positions. A recent state survey shows about 80 percent plan to raise wages to attract and retain more manufacturing employees. 

“Manufacturing is advancing and building new technologies. Workers aren’t sitting on an assembly line, but designing, building, and maintaining cutting edge machines, like robots and advanced automation,” says Laura Marmolejo, ACC department chair for Manufacturing. “We are building direct paths for students to train and get the skills needed to meet the growing demands of these high-paying careers in Central Texas’ manufacturing workforce.” 

ACC’s Advanced Manufacturing Program offers stackable credentials from entry-level skills certificates to an associate degree to help students get started and then advance in their careers.  

ACC also is home to the IMPACT Lab, a new manufacturing incubator that provides specialized facilities for start-up companies to develop prototypes and products. 

The college’s IMPACT Manufacturing Academy offers opportunities for high school students to complete dual credit courses leading to an industry certificate with hands-on learning and industry experience. 

For more information about the Expo and to register, visit austincc.edu/expo. The Expo is the college’s first major in-person community event since reopening campuses following COVID-19-related closures. Face masks are welcome and social distancing is encouraged.