HOMESTEAD, Pa. (September 3, 2026) – The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program, led by IACMI – The Composites Institute®, is proud to announce a new partnership with Rivers of Steel to enhance and scale up industry-driven training opportunities for current and prospective metalworking and manufacturing professionals. Supported through funding by the Department of War’s (DoW) Office of Industrial Base Policy, METAL strengthens and diversifies the U.S. metal manufacturing workforce, focusing on casting and forging.

Drawing on its stewardship of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark and decades of industrial education programming, Rivers of Steel will use the partnership to connect Pittsburgh’s industrial history and innovation to current workforce development opportunities in new ways. 

Rivers of Steel will implement METAL’s nationally recognized curriculum, beginning with a combination of online training and immersive in-person bootcamps held at the historic Carrie Blast Furnaces in Pittsburgh’s Mon Valley, equipped for metal melting and forging, heat treatment, and machining capabilities. 

Building on decades of connecting communities with the region’s industrial heritage, Rivers of Steel will give greater visibility to this new workforce development initiative that combines nationally recognized manufacturing curriculum with immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to prepare participants for careers in today’s metalworking and manufacturing industries. 

In addition to adult training, Rivers of Steel will also develop and implement a K-12 Mobile Training Unit, a transportable mobile learning environment suitable for K-12 educational use, offering in-person sessions of hands-on activities and programs, career exploration demonstrations, and educator engagement sessions. The program will support integrated STEM instruction, to spark early interest in metallurgical and advanced manufacturing careers. Activities include age-appropriate educational experiences related to casting, forging, machining, materials science, advanced and additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, CAD/CAM technologies and manufacturing design challenges.

“Rivers of Steel is truly an exciting addition to the METAL program,” said Mike Kubacki, METAL Program Director at IACMI. “The K-12 Mobile Training Unit planned for this partnership will emphasize experiential learning, introducing young students to career pathways in advanced manufacturing. The unit will operate at a variety of host locations, from schools to community events and will incorporate teamwork, problem solving and creative thinking. It is truly a unique offering to the regional community.”

For adult training, upon completing online and in-person bootcamp training with Rivers of Steel, participants may enter a stacked curriculum offering a menu of specialized training opportunities within METAL, allowing participants to tailor their learning experience, including an enhanced focus on automation in the casting and forging industry. 

“Rivers of Steel has helped people understand how manufacturing shaped this region for decades,” said Chris McGinnis, Vice President Programs and Development at Rivers of Steel. “Through our partnership with METAL, we’re expanding the critical message that  manufacturing is actively shaping futures today. By connecting students, job seekers, educators and employers through hands-on learning and career pathways, we’re investing in the next generation of skilled workers while strengthening the industries that continue to drive the economy of southwestern Pennsylvania.” 

River of Steel’s partnership with METAL includes plans to:

  • Provide immersive weeklong training bootcamps informed by METAL’s online curriculum, focusing on metal casting, forging, heat treatment and more at the Carrie Blast Furnaces
  • Execute a minimum of 12 in-person bootcamps for at least 180 participants throughout the course of its tenure 
  • Sponsor a minimum of 40 workforce development trainees on a pre-apprentice to workforce path
  • Deploy a fully operational K-12 mobile unit by the end of 2026, with the goal of reaching a minimum of 3,200 students by the end of its tenure
  • Further collaborations with local grade schools, high schools, community colleges, CTC’s, and universities. This strategic partnership will focus on integrating METAL training into their educational curriculum, enriching opportunities for students interested in metalworking and manufacturing and addressing critical needs.
  • Develop and sustain an industry engagement strategy, expanding relationships with regional employers representing metalworking sectors to ensure training remains aligned with current workforce demands. Engagement activities include:
    • Inviting industry partners to participate in networking events, guest speaking opportunities, technical presentations and workforce panels designed to increase awareness of career pathways within the metalworking sector
    • Encouraging industry partners to participate in on-site training activities, including attendance at in-person bootcamps, demonstrations of real-world applications, and direct engagement with participants to communicate skill expectations, hiring needs, and emerging workforce trends
    • Encouraging employers to utilize METAL online and instructor-led curriculum as part of incumbent worker training, apprenticeship development, and new employee onboarding processes
    • Inviting industry partners to host facility tours, provide interviews and hiring opportunities for participants, and contribute subject matter expertise to continuous improvement teams responsible for curriculum review and modification
    • Inviting industry partners to participate in advisory boards, provide internships and mentorship opportunities and identify emerging technologies and process needs to ensure the curriculum remains relevant to the evolving metalworking workforce
  • Explore partnerships with secondary schools, colleges, universities and workforce training providers to create pathways connecting METAL training with industry-recognized credentials, apprenticeships and additional educational opportunities

Earlier this summer, IACMI announced plans to expand METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), another workforce development program focused on machining and manufacturing, to 53 new locations at universities, colleges and trade schools by 2030, bringing the total number of sites to more than 100. Additionally, IACMI will introduce new initiatives to engage over 50,000 K-12 students and provide hundreds of internship opportunities.

Rivers of Steel’s addition to the METAL network strengthens a growing national network of 18 contracted METAL sites across 13 states. Together, these institutions are revitalizing American manufacturing by delivering responsive, scalable and sustainable workforce development programs.

For more information about METAL at Rivers of Steel, please contact:

Sarah Pope
Email: Sarah@piper-communications.com
Phone: 865-329-0553 

About METAL
Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL), led by IACMI, is an industry-driven initiative aimed at providing high-quality, hands-on training in the metalworking and manufacturing sectors. The program is designed to address workforce development needs by offering comprehensive curricula in casting, forging and metallurgy, with an emphasis on automation and modern manufacturing technologies.

About IACMI
IACMI – The Composites Institute® is a national public-private partnership focused on advancing composite materials and process technologies. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of War, IACMI brings together over 190 members from industry, academia, and government to drive manufacturing innovation and workforce development.

About Rivers of Steel
Rivers of Steel is a collection of four experiential museums and national historic landmarks that celebrate the global impact of Pittsburgh’s steel industry. Since its designation as a National Heritage Area, Rivers of Steel has contributed to the revitalization of Pittsburgh by championing the region’s steel heritage, natural and shared resources, and culture of innovation and hard work. Founded on principles of heritage development and community partnership, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization through tourism, education, workforce development in traditional trades, metal arts, and outdoor experiences across the Monongahela River Valley and eight counties in western Pennsylvania.