PPG on Tuesday hosted 50+ students from Grissom and Jemison high schools and chemical engineering students from the University of Alabama, Huntsville for a tour of its Huntsville facility.

The event is part of the company’s activities marking National Manufacturing Day, an initiative organized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) that aims to address the skilled labor shortage, connect with future generations of manufacturers and ensure ongoing success of the manufacturing industry.
 
The PPG Foundation donated $25,000 in grants in support of local science, technology, engineering and math education programs with the intent to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. The PPG Foundation grants include $15,000 to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center; $5,000 to the University of Alabama at Huntsville; and $5,000 to Greenpower USA.
 
PPG’s Huntsville facility employs about 600 people and manufactures aircraft transparencies for the aerospace industry, including military and commercial applications.
 
During the event, students toured the facility and participated in a Q&A session with a panel of PPG experts. This was followed by an opportunity for the students and PPG employees to network and converse.
 
“The goal is to educate students on opportunities within manufacturing and give them a behind-the-scenes look at what PPG does as a leading paint and coatings company,” said Tom Meyer, PPG plant manager, Huntsville. “We want to spark students’ interest in the manufacturing industry and encourage them to interact with one another as well as PPG employees to explore their potential interest in engineering.”