department, seeks to provide interns with a more robust R&D experience and project continuity. It has a rotating schedule of three months of schooling followed by three months of an internship, a cycle repeating and lasting throughout the intern's entire college career. Interns participating in this program are asked to stay for at least two three-month rotations. Koutras Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) has launched several efforts to attract young people to the textiles industry. One of these is the two-week Advanced Functional Fabrics Workshop where students conceptualize and create prototype solutions to address specific problems posed by companies involved in the program. Photo: AFFOA When the classes ended, the company hired three of the sewers. LaPorte says he plans to offer more of these community sewing classes when the company needs additional sewing operators. He is also considering partnering with other companies in the area to co-host public sewing classes. Reaching out to schools LaPorte Products also attends job fairs at community and technical colleges and offers tours of its facility to those interested in the industry. The company also regularly reaches out to local high schools to organize student programs to introduce students to the industry as they consider their postgraduate options. Joe Gallagher, president and " We plan to attract future founder of TopStitch Upholstery CNY and Street Dreams CNY Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y., also actively works with local schools to stimulate interest in the marine and auto upholstery fabrication industry. He is currently in discussions with Onondaga Community College (OCC) in Syracuse about adding an auto upholstery specialization or certificate to the school's auto body program because " there are not enough upholsterers in the U.S. " Students enrolled in the program would be able to complete their 400 required internship hours at Gallagher's 30,000 square-foot facility. employees from the program, starting with interns and cultivating them into long-term employees, " says Gallagher. " We look forward to working with OCC on this program expansion and developing a solid relationship with the school to provide qualified people to fill a large void in the auto upholstery sector. " Megan Phillips is the assistant editor of Specialty Fabrics Review magazine. MarineFabricatorMag.com | 33http://www.MarineFabricatorMag.com