Furthering Careers in Glass

The GMIC grant program was created to provide students with the opportunity to tour glass manufacturing facilities and get a first-hand look at glass melting and forming on an industrial scale. GMIC offers grants to underwrite the expenses incurred by colleges and universities interested in providing students with these tours.

The glass industry faces challenges in attracting capable, technically trained students to careers in glass manufacturing. GMIC has found that students become significantly more interested in glass manufacturing careers after they tour glass facilities.

Image Courtesy of Covia

“Student tours of glass manufacturing facilities offer a behind-the-scenes view of the highly diverse opportunities in our industry. They provide a spark for unexpected career paths and a great opportunity to learn more about the engineering and manufacturing skills needed in our field.”

Martin Goller
Corning, Inc.

Image Courtesy of Owens Corning

GMIC is now accepting applications for grants to support glass manufacturing facility tours:

GMIC is now accepting applications for grants to support glass manufacturing facility tours:

Eligibility

Grants are available to post high school education institutions, such as universities and colleges. Students may be of any technical major (materials science, mechanical engineering, glass, etc.) and may be of any class level.

Grants are for tours of glass manufacturing facilities. Such facilities would include industrial glass melting and forming plants, as well as glass technical centers. Tours that include museum visits must also include industrial facility tours.

Application Process

Grant applications will be available mid 2024, check back for updates.

Your grant application will ask for all pertinent information including institution, instructor, tour conductors, class or activity description, details on students attending, facilities to be toured, number of students participating, budget, and payment details.

Permission to tour facilities must be obtained prior to submitting application.

Key Information

  • Recipients of grant awards will be notified by September 1, 2024.
  • Awards will be paid to institutions in advance of tours.
  • Tours must be of the facilities indicated in the application.
  • Students are required to fill out a post-tour evaluation supplied to the institution by GMIC.
  • Institutions have 60 days after the tour to return documentation, including an accounting of expenses and student evaluations.

For additional grant information, please contact Kerry Ward, GMIC Executive Director, at kward@gmic.org or 773-383-3142.