Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) has been awarded its largest Job Skills Program (JSP) grant to date through an innovative workforce development partnership with the Walla Walla Foundry—an internationally recognized leader in art fabrication and a major employer in Eastern Washington’s manufacturing sector.
The JSP-funded project will support more than 450 hours of customized training focused on Lean manufacturing practices (maximizing value while minimizing waste in production processes), bilingual leadership development, and workplace conflict resolution. The initiative was co-developed by WWCC and Foundry leaders, in partnership with training experts from Impact Washington and Work Strategies WA.
“This award is not only a testament to the strength of our partnership with the Foundry, but also to WWCC’s growing impact on regional economic resilience,” said the grant writer and director of continuing & community education, Annaliese M. Baker. “It reflects our ability to connect industry-specific needs with innovative, inclusive training solutions.”
Program Highlights:
- Lean Methodology Training
Tools like Value Stream Mapping, Improvement Kata, and Coaching Kata will be delivered by Impact Washington to improve efficiency and reduce waste. - Bilingual Leadership Workshops
Work Strategies WA will lead workshops in English and Spanish, empowering employees across language barriers with tools for communication and conflict resolution. - Operational Goals
The program includes a target to reduce waste in mold and casting processes by up to 30%—a key improvement for the Foundry’s growing operations.
The Walla Walla Foundry is a vital player in both the industrial and creative economy of the region. This collaboration shows how WWCC can leverage state investments to support regional employers, strengthen workforce pipelines, and build long-term economic vitality.
