National Skills Summit

National Skills Summit
Innovative Initiatives: Consortiums

Miller Brewing Company: Tools for Success

The Challenge:

To equip new graduates of training programs or colleges, who often lack money to invest in tools or equipment and are unable to purchase the materials they need to begin work immediately.

The Solution:

Create a program in which recent graduates from technical colleges can apply for grants to help them purchase the equipment and uniforms they need to start their careers.

The Partners:

Miller Brewing Company, a major beverage manufacturer, provides the funding and creates partnerships with technical and community colleges.

Technical and Community Colleges in California, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Wisconsin have entered into partnerships with Miller Brewing Company to provide their students with tools and equipment.

The Story:

Many highly-trained technical college graduates face one last and often costly barrier before beginning employment - acquiring the tools of their trade. This barrier is faced by 90 percent of students graduating from technical training programs.

In response to this common barrier to employment, Miller Brewing Company and its partners created the Tools for Success program to promote technical education and award technical graduates with scholarships to purchase the supplies, equipment, and tools they need to start working.

Every Tools for Success recipient has a unique and important story. Some are stories of hope. Many are stories of triumph and achievement. For example:

Marci, a single mother from Texas, is pursuing her dream of a career in aviation technology.
Tom from Wisconsin served active duty in Kosovo and then returned to school to finish his studies in tool and die making.
Edgar, a former gang member from California, turned his life around by getting a degree in welding so he could take care of his young daughter.

Since the launch of the Tools for Success program in 1992, Miller has built partnerships with more than 20 technical and community colleges and dozens of education and community leaders around the country. Miller, in partnership with 20 colleges, has awarded more than $2 million in tools and supplies, helping more than 1,500 graduates achieve their goals of starting careers.

Tools for Success awards are offered in degree programs such as air conditioning auto or aviation mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, tool and die making and welding technology. Students who have completed all requirements in select technical degree programs at participating technical/community colleges may apply for an award.

A selection committee made up of representatives from colleges, local communities, and Miller Brewing Company chooses the scholarship winners based on academic achievements, community service, personal statements, and recommendations.

Tools for Success promotes the importance of technical education and provides a model for public-private partnerships. Miller works with its partners to increase public awareness of technical education and workforce development opportunities and strengthen the network of organizations working to bring employers and skilled workers together.

Tools for Success is endorsed by the American Association of Community Colleges.

A Model of Innovation:

Tools for Success was designed to help address the skilled labor shortage, promote the importance of technical education and provide a model for public-private partnerships. Its unique structure presents an innovative method for addressing the obstacles associated with starting a technical career. Tools for Success is one of few programs to address the costs of starting a new job.

Contacts:

Julie Kubasa
Tools for Success Program Manager
Miller Brewing Company
P.O. Box 482
Milwaukee, WI 53201
414-931-2000 (p)
414-931-6789 (f)