Gov. Gianforte Highlights Manufacturing, Apprenticeships in East Helena

Gov. Gianforte Highlights Manufacturing, Apprenticeships in East Helena

Concludes fourth annual 56 County Tour as governor in Lewis & Clark County

• October 21 2024

EAST HELENA, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte today concluded his fourth annual 56 County Tour as governor in Lewis & Clark County highlighting Montana manufacturing at the American Chemet headquarters in East Helena.

"It was great to cap off my fourth annual 56 County Tour with a visit to American Chemet to highlight the good-paying jobs they create and their work to empower young Montanans with in-demand skills," Gov. Gianforte said. "Businesses like these show that when you combine the Montana work ethic with opportunity, the American dream comes alive for folks in our state."

Gov. Gianforte talking with American Chemet CEO Bill Shropshire

Founded in 1946, American Chemet Corporation is a manufacturer and a global supplier of metal-based chemicals for a wide variety of industries including agriculture, lumber, automotive, and roofing.

Visiting with CEO Bill Shropshire and Vice President Joe Baumgart, the governor learned more about of American Chemet's use of over 70 million pounds of recycled copper each year to create cuprous oxide, cupric oxide, fungicides, copper powders, and basic copper carbonate.

Employing nearly 150 full-time employees, the company has also expanded to offering apprenticeships. Partnering with the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, American Chemet offers paid, supervised on-the-job training to new and recently hired production employees in entry level positions.

The company offers a Certified Manufacturing Associate Apprenticeship as a 1-year training program to Montanans over the age of 16 that combines time on the job with online courses to help apprentices learn basic manufacturing concepts and gain high-demand skills. After successful completion of the work hours, course requirements, and exam, apprentices receive certificates from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Under the governor's leadership, Montana in 2022 added more apprenticeships to the Registered Apprenticeship Program than ever before. Many of these were added following a rule change supported by the governor that allowed one journeyman to supervise two apprentices.

In line with his priorities, the governor last year expanded work-based learning opportunities for Montana students, signing three bills into law to support schools in offering internships, apprenticeships, and Career and Technical Education programs.

The visit to the facility marks the end of the governor's 56 County Tour that launched in April in Meagher County. In the months since, Gov. Gianforte has traveled to each of Montana's 56 counties to meet with Montanans where they live and work and to highlight small business, family farms and ranches, leading industries, and historic investments in education, law enforcement, and public lands.

To learn more about Montana's Registered Apprenticeship Program administered by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, see here.

To view the governor's proclamation declaring October as Manufacturing Month in Montana, see here.

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