Berkeley County Offers Manufacturing Training Scholarships in Cainhoy

(Thursday, January 16, 2020) Berkeley County will host an information meeting to provide training for manufacturing positions on Thursday, January 30, 2020. The meeting will be held at Cainhoy Elementary School. It is open to Berkeley County residents looking for manufacturing jobs.

            When: Thursday, January 30, 6 p.m.

            Where: Cainhoy Elementary School, 2434 Cainhoy Rd. Huger, SC 29450

            Why: Help connect Berkeley County residents with the necessary training for manufacturing positions

Attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up for the upcoming ManuFirstSCTM, formerly known as Lean Manufacturing, course that will begin on Saturday, March 14, on the Cainhoy Elementary School Campus. This 3-week course, concluding on April 2, will provide the necessary training to qualify candidates for positions at industries around Berkeley County and throughout the state of South Carolina. Graduates of the program will have an opportunity to connect with local employers and community partners.

The course is free for candidates who are Berkeley County residents who meet the following requirements:

  • be at least 18 years old
  • be able to legally work in the United States
  • provide documentation of Berkeley County residency
  • have a high school diploma or GED
  • provide proof of a Bronze WIN/WorkKeys score
  • pass a SC SLED background check (paid for by the scholarship)
  • pass a basic panel drug screen (paid for by the scholarship)

All applications must be submitted to Berkeley County Economic Development, via email to kristen.lanier@berkeleycountysc.gov or turned into the Supervisor’s office at 1003 Highway 52, Moncks Corner, on or before 5 pm on Feb. 21, 2020.


About ManuFirstSCTM – Berkeley County worked in partnership with Trident Technical College, South Carolina Department of Commerce, Volvo Cars, and Ready SC to pilot the program in June of 2017. More than 150 people graduated from the Lean Manufacturing course, which put them on the path to employment opportunities at Volvo Cars in Ridgeville. Since then, neighboring counties have emulated the training program to provide opportunities for residents around the state with more than 900 graduates in the Tri-County area, including 350 Berkeley County residents. SC Department of Commerce has re-branded the program to ManuFirstSCTM and has begun to roll it out across the state’s technical college system by industry demand.


In the News! Check out a recent article in the Post and Courier about ManuFirst:

SC manufacturers’ training program has participants changing careers and lives

Winnie Harley, a process technician at Volvo Cars, times the manufacturing process to look for improvements at the automaker’s manufacturing plant near Ridgeville. Harley has held numerous jobs over the years but said she’s found a home at Volvo. Gavin McIntyre/Staff