The Northland Workforce Training Center's What's So Cool About Manufacturing Video Contest​ is a program designed by employers and educators to help improve the image of manufacturing as a career choice with the objective of recruiting more young people to vocational and technical schools that feed talent to the manufacturing industry.

Teams of middle school students, led by teacher-coaches, are provided with video equipment and instructional materials and matched with local manufacturers. Each team has four months to create a short video profile of partner companies, and the career opportunities they offer to answer the question, "What's so cool about manufacturing?" The entries are judged by an expert panel and public vote—hosted on the Northland website. Winners are recognized at an awards ceremony by industry and education leaders, dignitaries, and elected officials.

This project is sponsored by Northland Workforce Training Center, Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance and Dream It. Do It. Western New York. For more information, contact Catherine Muth at (585) 216-5860 or catherinem@bnmalliance.com. ​ ​