Monroe County's Monroe Manufactures Jobs program has its first beneficiary.

The program is a partnership between the county and Monroe Community College to provide job opportunities within the local manufacturing industry.

Romold, a precision manufacturing company located in Gates, employs the first graduate of the program.

Founded in 1997, Romold designs and manufactures plastic injection molds. Despite a struggling economy, the company's president said it is having one of its best years ever.

"The shop has gone through an evolution here where everyone's stepping up to the plate. I think the tough economic times, instead of cowering and becoming victims we rose to the occasion and decided to be more proactive about it and it's really helped our business immensely," said Lou Romano, Romold president.

Last week, Romold benefitted from the county's Monroe Manufactures Jobs program. Teaming with MCC, graduates from the college's precision machining and optical fabrication program are connected with local manufacturing programs.

Matt Brooks is the first graduate of the program. He worked part-time at Romold while taking courses at MCC and now works full-time as a moldmaking apprentice.

"The MCC program showed me all the basics that you need to know when you're going into a shop. I went after it. My teachers, they were probably a little bit annoyed with me after a while, all the questions, all the late days and everything, leaving the computer lab open for me. I really appreciate that," said Brooks.

The MCC program gives students a basic understanding of the business, including machining and lathe turning.

Students like Matt take the basic foundation of what MCC provides and bring it to the shop floor.

"There's feedback with the college. They create their curriculum based on the requirements of industry, share with them that they need on the shop floor. In house, with regards to apprentices specifically, they work with the management staff here. We can guide them and steer them toward areas where they might need some foundation skills, some education in order to enhance their progression through the shop here," said Romano.

Brooks is part of a four-year apprentice program.

He received a $1,500 check, as did Romold, for participation in the program.

Romold