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The Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM—is launching a new chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME USA) in partnership with Grow Quad Cities and Eastern Iowa Community Colleges.

• FAME USA, which was founded by Toyota and is now led by the MI, is an employer-led solution that provides global-best workforce development through strong technical training, integration of manufacturing core competencies, intensive professional practices and intentional hands-on experience.

How it works: The new two-year apprenticeship-style training program at EICC—the product of two years of research by the MI and partners into local workforce needs—will allow students to earn while they learn to become highly skilled advanced maintenance technicians.

• Students spend two days a week in the classroom and three days a week with a sponsoring employer to get hands-on experience on the shop floor. At the end of their two years, they will have accrued over 2,000 hours of hands-on training and earned an associate degree in industrial maintenance.
• The new IA FAME – Riverbend chapter will be housed at EICC’s Blong Technology Center in partnership with Grow Quad Cities and seven local manufacturing companies: Amcor Global Rigid Packaging Solutions, LMT Defense, Novelis, Oertel Metal Works, PCT Ebeam and Integration, Smith Filter and SSAB.
• “Riverbend FAME expands what’s possible for students,” said EICC Chancellor Bryan Renfro. “It gives them a direct pathway to industry experience, job-ready training and long-term career success in manufacturing.”

Why it matters: Grow Quad Cities’ annual  Top 100 High-Priority Jobs Report, released in August 2025, shows high local demand for industrial machinery mechanics, machinists and mobile heavy equipment mechanics—roles for which FAME graduates are perfectly suited.

• “We’ve been thoughtfully listening to what our local manufacturers need when it comes to future workforce,” said Grow Quad Cities Vice President, Business Retention & Expansion, Workforce Chris Caves. “And we know the need for maintenance talent in the region is growing due to an aging population of maintenance staff. FAME has been adopted positively by global manufacturing companies for the past 15 years, and we’re ready to demonstrate that the Quad Cities is serious about developing manufacturing professionals to satisfy this occupational need that will only grow in the years to come.”
• With support from the Arconic Foundation, the MI advanced its FAME efforts by partnering with Grow Quad Cities to convene local employers and launch the newest FAME chapter, strengthening workforce development for the Quad Cities’ robust manufacturing community.

Critical support: The new chapter was made possible thanks to grants from the Arconic Foundation.

• “The newly established FAME chapter serving the Quad Cities region will open new paths to great careers in manufacturing for local students,” said Arconic Foundation President and Treasurer Ryan Kish. “Arconic Foundation is proud to invest in this proven model to help prepare the next generation of manufacturing workers in the community.”

FAME spreads: IA FAME – Riverbend is the first FAME chapter in Iowa, expanding FAME USA’s footprint to 17 states, with 45 locations nationwide.

• As of 2025, six years after the MI took over responsibility for the initiative, FAME has brought together nearly 500 companies employing more than 1,200 students annually with 2,700 graduates and growing.
• FAME USA National Director Tony Davis said, “This chapter is really a great example of perseverance and engagement from local manufacturers, supported by great community groups and with a commitment to serve the needs of manufacturers by the college.”

What’s next: The first cohort of 10 students will start in fall 2026 and will graduate ready to join the manufacturing workforce full time in spring 2028.

Get involved: To learn more about FAME and starting a chapter, go here.

Photo of EICC Chancellor Bryan Renfro, credit EICC