CEDAR KNOLLS, NJ—New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program Inc. (NJMEP) has opened a new training facility in Bellmawr, NJ, to provide local manufacturers with easier access to training and consulting services. On August 19, NJMEP's board and prominent state legislators were in attendance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, facility tour and demonstrations of the site's training equipment.

The facility is fully staffed for consulting services and ready to host professional development training courses and workshops. It also has innovative augmented reality welding equipment and CNC equipment to provide hands-on training to help alleviate the skills gap in these in-demand areas. The Bellmawr facility has been given the name the 'Chris DePace' training center to commemorate one of NJMEP's longest-running account managers who lost his life to COVID-19 complications.

"It's our responsibility to ensure that every manufacturing business in New Jersey has the option to take advantage of our services as New Jersey's MEP center," says John W. Kennedy, Ph.D. and CEO of NJMEP. "We've always been able to serve South Jersey-based manufacturers from our Cedar Knolls headquarters, but the opening of the Bellmawr training center makes it even easier for these businesses to upskill their staff and engage with NJMEP."

"New Jersey is home to more than 11,000 manufacturing and STEM firms, and these businesses are located all around the state," continues Kennedy. "The opening of our Bellmawr office is a massive step forward for the industry by extending our support of New Jersey manufacturing firms. It's a big day for our state and our industry."