Smith & Wesson, a 156-yearold firearms manufacturer in Springfield, Mass., has donated $40,000 in cutting tools to technical schools in its area through the Western Massachusetts Chapter of National Tooling & Machining Association.
The tools will go to ten schools – William Dean HS in Holyoke, Westfield Vocational, Pathfinder Regional in Palmer, Putnam in Springfield, Chicopee Comp, Smith Vocational in Northampton, Franklin Tech in Turners Fall, MCDI in Springfield, Springfield Technical Community College, and Asnuntuck CC in Enfield Conn.
In late 2007, Smith & Wesson donated three CNC machines to two area schools, and continues its leadership role in working with local educators and providing assistance to the Springfield Public Schools in the development of the Roger L. Putnam Technical High School. The new high school will be an important contributor to supplying future employees to Smith & Wesson.
In addition to its donation of tools and machinery, Smith & Wesson has conducted evening and afternoon training classes on its plant floor in a joint venture with the Hampden County Regional Employment Board. The courses were made available to incumbent employees from other precision manufacturing companies in the region as well Smith & Wesson’s own employees.
