Building the Talent Pipeline for Precision Manufacturing
The future of manufacturing depends on people—skilled, motivated, and prepared to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. The National Tooling & Machining Association is committed to strengthening the precision manufacturing workforce by connecting education, industry, and opportunity.
NTMA Workforce Development Grants
Workforce development grants are administered directly by STL Chapter NTMA and reviewed by an WFD committee. These grants are designed to support junior high and high schools, programs, and initiatives that strengthen the manufacturing talent pipeline. This also extends to furthering education for memberships current workforce!
Grant funding may be used for:
Equipment, tooling, or lab enhancements
Program expansion or curriculum development
Workforce readiness initiatives aligned with industry needs
Grant applications are reviewed based on impact, alignment with workforce goals, and benefit to the manufacturing community.
NTMA Scholarships
NTMA scholarships are administered through partner schools. Students apply directly through their participating technical school or college, following that institution’s established scholarship process.
This approach aligns awards with academic programs and enrollment requirements, ensures funds directly support students pursuing manufacturing-related education, and leverages schools’ existing oversight and student support systems.
Scholarships are awarded to students preparing for careers in precision manufacturing and the skilled trades.
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Online Learning Platform and Apprenticeship
NTMA-U is NTMA’s recently updated, industry-led training platform—built for today’s manufacturing workforce. The program includes a U.S. Department of Labor–approved registered apprenticeship, giving manufacturers and learners a nationally recognized, structured pathway to skill development.
Courses can be taken individually or stacked into modular learning tracks, allowing companies to upskill employees where they need it most—or build a full apprenticeship pathway over time. Training is instructor-led, video-based, and available online, making it easy to integrate learning into real work schedules.
Whether you’re onboarding new employees, strengthening incumbent worker skills, or building a long-term apprenticeship program, NTMA-U delivers flexible, practical training with real-world manufacturing impact.
St. Louis Chapter members receive a $100 rebate per NTMA-U course, up to $500 per year.