President Obama Talks Manufacturing in Alexandria

Update 12:10 p.m.: Obama has left the campus and traffic is re-opening as usual around campus. Check back for reactions and a full recap of Obama's speech shortly. 

--

Update 11:58 a.m.: Obama concluded his speech by saying, "We are in a tough fight... to get past the crippling recession. Before this recession manufacturing had weakened. The answer is not to turn back. That's how we're going to win the fight."

"These young people are excited," he said. 

--

Update 11:54 a.m.: Obama said we have to strengthen and rebuild the middle class. 

"Today we're announcing several new commitments by the private sector, colleges," Obama said. "Making it possible for 500,000 community college students to get industry-accepted crendentials for manufacturing jobs. The irony is that there a lot of people looking for work, but a lot of companies are looking to hire." 

--

Update 11:45 a.m.: "It's great to be back at NOVA," Obama said. "I come here so much I think I should be getting some credits." 

He welcomed the guests and thanked them for being there, while pointing out some distuingished guests: Congressman Jim Moran, Hilda Solis, Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille is here and the president of NVCC Dr. Robert Temple. 

Before his speech, Obama was given a tour of the Automotive Technology program by program head Ernie Packer. 

"I was so impressed with the skills that young people are learning but also with enthusiasm and excitement with what they see as potential future," Obama said."

"All over there are folks that are learning skills, learning a trade," he said. 

--

Update 11:37 a.m.: Obama has taken to the podium in an engineering classroom at the NVCC Alexandria Campus to speak to invited students and guests. 

Watch the live stream from the White House's website here. 

--

Update 10:40 a.m.: Still waiting for Obama to arrive, he is expected to speak to guests at 11 or 11:30 a.m.. Obama will be speaking to students and guests about "a series of initiatives critical to improving the manufacturing workforce," according to a White House press release. 

Security is tight on campus this morning, with several parking lots blocked off with police tape and a U.S. Park Police helicopter circling overhead NVCC Alexandria Campus now. Police are also checking rooftops of the adjacent buildings, including the apartment buildings, for security reasons, ahead of Obama's arrival. 

All VIPs are arriving on campus via Seminary Road. Congressman Jim Moran has arrived. 

--

Update 9:20 a.m.: Nineteen students from the Automotive Technology program get to hear Obama speak at NVCC's Alexandria Campus today. These students are from the Alternative Fuels program and the Drive 2 Employment program. The Drive 2 Employment program is a service-oriented program where they repair cars for people in need in the community. 

The NVCC Automotive Technology Program in Alexandria has 474 students, according to Ernie Packer, Automotive Technology Program Head. Packer only found out last week that Obama would be speaking to students on Campus. Packer, who worked for the Ford Motor Company for 29 years, will be leading Obama on a tour of the Automotive Technology program prior to speaking. 

"In this economy, people are looking for skilled labor," said student Abdul Sahraei of Ashburn, who has two semesters to go before graduating. "If you have a degree, there are jobs out there." 

Sahraei has taken classes in engines, fuels, electrical systems, brakes and suspension and he is part of the Drive 2 Employment program. The program is completed 68 credits, which takes most students approximately two years. 

Jaouad El Kadiri said he only found out yesterday that Obama was coming to speak to them. El Kadiri, who moved to the United States from Morocco in 2006, has been a NVCC student for three years, and joined the Automotive Technology program after completing his English courses. 

"Personally, I'm so excited to have this opportunity to see the President," said El Kadiri before the event. "I just can't wait for that moment to see him." 

--

Update 9 a.m.: Before the meeting Patch spoke with Merle Winter, office assistant for NVCC's Alexandria Campus, in the Bisdorf Building. Winter is also studying psychology here.

"[Obama] needs to talk about creating more jobs for people right out of college," Winter said. "Recent graduates can't find jobs. He's trying to fix problems that were caused before."

Yohanes Asrat, a medical student from Ethiopia who has lived in the United States for eight years, said he sees the economy as getting better. "It's good the government is involved in jobs and education," Asrat said. He added that he had no idea that the President was speaking on the campus today and was not notified that his math class in the Engineering Building was cancelled.

"That's poor notification," Asrat said, adding that he couldn't find parking on campus either.

--

Originial Report, Wednesday 7 a.m.: President Barack Obama will announce several new initiatives aimed at improving this country's manufacturing workforce today at Northern Virginia Community College's Alexandria campus.

The initiatives include a standardized credentialing system designed to keep students from spending time and money on training that potential employers aren't interested in, according to the Obama administration.

The manufacturing sector also will help develop a certification system that isn't bound by state lines.

A number of public-private partnerships to support the administration's efforts also will be announced, including those aimed at building the new credentials into 3,500 high school curricula and providing online tools for students and workers, the White House stated in a press release.

The manufacturing sector employs about 11 million people in the United States. About one-quarter of them are 55 or older and expected to retire in the next decade.