CA DIDI

10/14/2026

It’s Official! October Is Manufacturing Month!

Mayor Amy Sherburne has officially proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month in our area!

Mayor Sherburne delivered an inspiring and motivational proclamation, encouraging our local youth to explore the exciting career opportunities available in manufacturing—right here at home! By highlighting the skills, innovation, and rewarding careers that drive our local industry, the proclamation celebrated the bright future awaiting the next generation and the opportunities they can find right here in our own community.

CA-DIDI was proudly represented at tonight’s Olean Council meeting by a group of students, parents, CA-DIDI Board members, and the CA-DIDI team.

We have already welcomed 75 students for tours in early October, with over 300 students scheduled to tour on October 15 and even more visits planned for late October and into November!

Stay tuned for more updates!

10/08/2026

Congratulations, SolEpoxy! Well deserved! SolEpoxy has been a wonderful supporter of Dream It. Do It. over the years with tours, presentations, Mfg Fair, Girls in Mfg Day, school visits, Professor DIDI, being on our Board of Managers, and more! Thank you and congratulations!

OLEAN — For almost 80 years, SolEpoxy, Inc. has been inventing and innovating, right here in Olean. “SolEpoxy was made in Olean and, fair to say, SolEpoxy was made for Olean,” said Jeff Belt, president and co-founder of the business. SolEpoxy is 2026’s honoree for the Greater Olean Area Cham...

10/05/2026

FREE MOVIE. FREE FUN. FAMILY TIME. 👻
Hotel Transylvania is coming to Olean—and you’re invited!

And kiddos, draw a monster and CA-DIDI interns will 3D print! See details on attached flyers!

10/04/2026

This is only the beginning! National Manufacturing Month is off to a great start in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. We joined DIDIWNY and Northland Workforce Training Center to welcome in National Manufacturing Day. Meanwhile, students from Fillmore High School had a great tour and inspiring talk with Koike Aronson in Arcade. A number of classes from Olean City Schools and Rise Academy toured FiberCel, Keystone Tool & Die, SolEpoxy, and the Olean Water Treatment plant. Thank you to our manufacturers for welcoming our students into your facilities and to the teachers, who brought so many curious and appreciative students! More to come on October 15th!

10/02/2026

Manufacturing Month is about to begin in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties! Stay tuned!

10/01/2026

08/31/2026

From Design to Manufacturing, Fusion does it all! Our CA-DIDI students designed their coasters, set up their pocket toolpaths, and operated CNCs at JCC @ MTI with Xavier Smith. What a success!

Afterwards, we celebrated the moment with KA-BAR Engineer Alex Caya encouraging our CA-DIDI students to always learn something new every day!

With JCC certificates in hand, our CA-DIDI students ended the 2026 DIDI 2.0 class with wooden coasters, but more than that, the knowledge of the manufacturing process from design to production. Thank you, JCC, The Hatch, KA-BAR, and everyone who made this class such a great success!

08/14/2026

Like many of life's greatest adventures, our 2026 Drone Certification Class was both memorable and educational. This unique experience was made possible through our partnership with Salamanca City Schools, the generous support of local manufacturers, and, most importantly, the expertise and leadership of FAA-certified instructor Matt Schnaufer. With a passion for aviation and a gift for teaching, Matt guided students beyond the basics, helping them understand not only how to fly drones, but also the responsibility, regulations, and career opportunities that come with the technology.

From August 3-7, our CA‑DIDI interns traveled to Salamanca to participate in hands‑on training alongside SNI Marshals, the SNI Tribal Historic Preservation Office, Allegany Fire, and Allegany EMS. Under Matt's instruction, CA-DIDI interns gained real-world experience and valuable insights as they prepared for FAA drone certification. What began as a week of training became an opportunity for CA-DIDI interns to see new career possibilities, build confidence, and gain career-based skills.

08/13/2026

Today kicked off the CA‑DIDI 2.0 CNC Class, a two‑week Fusion 360 intensive that is giving students a firsthand look at how ideas become products. In partnership with JCC's Manufacturing Technology Institute (MTI), ten students from across Cattaraugus County began their journey into 3D design and advanced manufacturing under the guidance of instructor Xavier Smith.
In just two hours, students downloaded Fusion 360, created their first models, imported canvases, traced designs with splines, applied constraints, and learned to navigate Fusion's workflow. And most importantly, how to save!
What began the day as a blank canvas quickly transformed into 3D modeled designs. With every click, curve, and constraint, students moved worked to turn ideas into something real.
The best part? Today's digital sketches are not destined to stay on a computer screen. Over the next three training sessions, students will follow the manufacturing process from design to production, giving their creations the potential to become real, tangible products made in the JCC MTI lab.

08/13/2026

We’re off to a great start with our DIDI 2.0 CNC class at MTISUNY JCC, led by the talented Xavier Smith! We have an incredible group of creative, curious teens who are already bringing their ideas and imagination to life.
It’s inspiring to see their enthusiasm and potential. The future of Cattaraugus County is looking bright!