Dream It Do It WNY

What Dream It Do It WNY does

Dream It Do It Western New York (DIDIWNY) is a nonprofit workforce development initiative founded in 2009 and operated as a program under the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST). The organization targets the manufacturing workforce gap across a five-county region in Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties), serving approximately 70,000 middle and high school students, 1,615 regional manufacturers, and the educators and families who influence career decisions.

Its core offering is the Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program (DIDIAMP), a structured certification pathway with four belt levels — Yellow, Green, Black, and Master Black Belt — that recognizes student achievement through STEM events, manufacturer tours, coursework, work experience, and OSHA certifications. The program is delivered through a portfolio of experiential products: Manufacturing Mayhem Camp (week-long summer intensive), Girls in Manufacturing Camp, Create Your Future Camp, TCAM Camp (educator/manufacturer professional development), and STEM Wars (technology competition and career fair). Student enrollment and digital badge tracking are managed through the Tallo talent platform, which connects student profiles directly to regional manufacturers for recruitment.

DIDIWNY operates from four offices (Jamestown headquarters plus Buffalo, Olean, and Niagara Falls) with a staff of 5. All student, educator, and manufacturer programs are provided free of charge, with operating costs underwritten by a diversified funding base: 22% from federal sources (notably $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor) and 78% from non-federal sources including private manufacturers (Blackstone Advanced Technologies, Cummins, National Grid, Weber Knapp), New York State, the Chautauqua County IDA, Niagara County, and community foundations. Since inception, DIDIWNY has facilitated over 75,000 student and teacher interactions.

Name

Dream It Do It WNY

Legal name

Dream It Do It

Website

https://didiwny.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Internship-to-Apprenticeship & Early Talent Pipeline Programs (EDAMAKAL), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO)

Keywords

• Manufacturing workforce development
• Youth career education
• Advanced manufacturing pipeline
• Skilled trades training
• STEM education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamestown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Financial Support: DIDIWNY is funded primarily through financial supporters including private companies (Blackstone, Cummins, National Grid, Weber Knapp), public institutions (NY State, Department of Labor, CCIDA, County of Niagara), and philanthropic organizations (community foundations). 22% of budget comes from federal funding ($250,000), with 78% from non-federal sources.
2. Free Student Programs: All student programs including camps, certifications, and events are provided at no cost to participants. The organization subsidizes program costs through its funding model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dream It Do It WNY is a nonprofit workforce development initiative that connects middle and high school students with hands-on manufacturing experiences, career exploration, industry-recognized certifications, and direct pathways to advanced manufacturing careers across Western New York's five-county region. The organization runs the Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program (DIDIAMP), a structured four-level belt certification system (Yellow, Green, Black, Master Black Belt) supported by experiential camps, competitions, and educator programs.

Product overview

Dream It Do It WNY operates as a unified workforce development ecosystem centered around the Advanced Manufacturing Program (DIDIAMP). The core offering is a structured certification pathway with four belt levels (Yellow, Green, Black, Master Black Belt) that students progress through from middle school to graduation. This is supplemented by a portfolio of experiential learning products including Manufacturing Mayhem Camp (week-long intensive summer program), Girls in Manufacturing Camp (welding-focused workshops), Create Your Future Camp (machining-focused), TCAM Camp (professional development for educators and manufacturers), and STEM Wars (competitive technology event). Students earn digital badges for specific achievements and can ultimately achieve belt-level certification that positions them for manufacturing careers. The program leverages the Tallo platform for student enrollment and talent profile management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DIDIAMP: Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program - an early talent pipeline, validation, certification and recruitment resource connecting manufacturers with students in grades 8-12.

Products and services

• Dream It Do It Advanced Manufacturing Program (DIDIAMP) A structured early talent pipeline program that connects middle and high school students with hands-on manufacturing experiences, career exploration, industry-recognized certifications, and pathways to advanced manufacturing careers across Western New York.
• Manufacturing Mayhem Camp A week-long summer camp for students in grades 8-12 where participants learn about the manufacturing process, tour local manufacturers, and create or manufacture projects to take home.
• Girls in Manufacturing Camp A hands-on welding and manufacturing experience designed to empower and encourage girls to consider careers in manufacturing, featuring workshops on welding fundamentals and metal fabrication projects.
• Create Your Future Camp A one-day immersive machining experience where students explore precision machining careers through hands-on activities with real machining equipment.
• TCAM Camp (Teacher, Counselor, Administrator and Manufacturer) An interactive professional learning experience for educators and industry leaders to strengthen partnerships between education and manufacturing, featuring hands-on applied learning and manufacturing facility tours.
• STEM Wars A two-day technology competition, career fair, and tech expo featuring STEM challenges including bridge design, CAD design, robotics, aviation drone challenges, and CO2 car races for elementary through high school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,000+ student and teacher interactions since 2009
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Blackstone Advanced TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate sector manufacturer providing financial support and serving as a participating employer for DIDIAMP student recruitment and workforce development programs.
• Cummins JEPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCummins Job Engine Program providing workforce development support and P-TECH program collaboration with Dream It Do It.
• Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of Dream It Do It WNY initiative, providing strategic direction and industry connections for the manufacturing workforce program.
• National GridsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPrivate utility company providing financial support for workforce development initiatives in the WNY region.
• Weber KnappsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional manufacturer providing financial support and participating in workforce development programs.
• Jamestown Community College - Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Manufacturing Mayhem Camp, providing manufacturing technology facilities and equipment for student hands-on experiences.
• SUNY NiagaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Manufacturing Mayhem Camp and TCAM Camp, providing facilities for workforce training and manufacturing education programs.
• Northland Workforce Training CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Create Your Future Camp and Girls in Manufacturing events, providing machining and welding training facilities.
• P-TECH Academy DunkirkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for TCAM Camp and Girls in Manufacturing programming, providing innovative P-TECH educational model facilities.
• Northwest ArenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent venue for STEM Wars 2026 technology competition, career fair, and tech expo.
• TallocoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital platform for student enrollment, talent profile creation, badge tracking, and employer connections in the DIDIAMP program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SkillsUSA: National nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college students preparing for trade, technical, and skilled service careers. Highly comparable as a workforce pipeline nonprofit with a structured certification framework and employer partnerships.
• Project Lead the Way (PLTW): National nonprofit providing STEM curriculum and career pathways for K-12 students, including manufacturing-focused pathways. Comparable mission of preparing students for technical careers through structured, credentialed in-school programs.
• Junior Achievement (JA): National youth education nonprofit delivering career exploration, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs to K-12 students. Comparable as a free, employer-funded career education nonprofit serving students in grades 8-12.
• Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier (MAST): Parent organization of Dream It Do It WNY and a regional manufacturers association that drives the workforce development mission. Directly comparable as the host entity and primary industry convener for DIDIWNY's programs.
• Dream It Do It (National Network / The Manufacturing Institute): The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, runs the national Dream It Do It movement. Operates the same mission, branding model, and K-12 manufacturing awareness framework as DIDIWNY at a national scale.
• Northland Workforce Training Center: Buffalo-based workforce training center and host venue for DIDIWNY's Create Your Future and Girls in Manufacturing camps. Comparable as a regional manufacturing training provider building talent pipelines for advanced manufacturing employers.

Emerging players

• CareerWise USA: National nonprofit modernizing youth apprenticeship by connecting high school students with paid, multi-year apprenticeships in skilled occupations. Comparable youth apprenticeship model with employer-funded pathways, though serving different geographies and industries.
• Genesys Works: Nonprofit providing high school students from under-served communities with skills training, internships, and corporate career pathways. Comparable nonprofit-driven workforce pipeline model though focused on office/professional tracks rather than manufacturing.
• Apprenti: National apprenticeship program placing job seekers into tech and trade apprenticeships with employer sponsors. Comparable earn-while-you-learn apprenticeship model connecting underserved populations with skilled career pathways.

Broad incumbents

• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation: National foundation supporting manufacturing education through scholarships, STEM programs, and student competitions. Comparable mission of inspiring youth to pursue manufacturing careers, though operating at national scale with broader program portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dream-it-do-it-wny

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dream It Do It WNY