Oct. 14, 2026 10:15a
(WGTD)---In celebration of Manufacturing Month, Gov. Evers paid a visit Tuesday to Gateway’s SC Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant, home to various manufacturing and engineering training programs that includes a fabrication lab.
He was accompanied by Gateway President Veronique Tran and the secretary of the state Department of Workforce Development, Amy Pechacek. The group toured several classrooms and training areas, including one where HARIBO employees were receiving some upskilling.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Evers said he was impressed with the ability of Gateway to respond to the training needs of new employers, like Eli Lilly, and the changing needs of existing employers. "The ability to change and be very innovative is just amazing," he said.
Gateway strives to meet the needs of new employers like Lilly through close collaboration and by combining existing curriculum with any new programs that are needed.
According to a news release from the governor’s office, with over 470,000 manufacturing jobs across nearly 9,000 employers, Wisconsin is the first in the nation for manufacturing employment per capita.
Gateway President Tran said she’s proud of the work Gateway has done over the years to support manufacturing, noting that Gateway is celebrating its 115th anniversary. "Manufacturing has deep roots in Wisconsin and Gateway has been there along the way through all the different changes," she said.
Evers spent well over an hour at iMET.
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