Organizational Background & Mission: Mission Statement (established in 1999): “New Century Careers contributes to the economic health of Southwestern Pennsylvania through meeting manufacturing workforce needs by working to deliver a capable workforce to employers of the region. New Century Careers seeks to improve the lives of individuals through the development of skills that lead to good quality family wage jobs and careers.”

In 1997, Southwestern Pennsylvania manufacturers identified a critical shortage of entry-level machinists and other manufacturing workers. A group consisting of representatives from vocational schools, local university and executives representing seventeen manufacturers partnered to create the MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) training program to fill these entry level positions.

In 1999, New Century Careers was established as a non-profit organization to run the M2K training program in order to grow the skills of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Manufacturing workforce. New Century Careers collaborates with local manufacturers, four local Workforce Investment Boards in nine counties, state agencies and many supportive organizations to shed light on the opportunities that manufacturing provides for the people of our communities. We support pre-employment and incumbent manufacturing workers as well as their current or future employers to help each set of clients advance economically through continuous workforce education and training.

In 2005, New Century Careers work with its partners to bring the BotsIQ high school robotics competition to Southwestern Pennsylvania. The first competition was held in 2006 with five vocational schools participating in the program. Now in its 9th year, the program has grown. 51 area high schools, 800 students and over 100 companies, academic institutions and workforce development organizations are involved in the SWPA BotsIQ program.