Marion CAN DO’s R&E program continues to be a corner piece of economic development. To date eight companies have been visited. They are ConAgra, Marcy Industries, Morral Companies, Nucor, Power Plant Services, RobotWorx, Whirlpool/Marion Division and Wyandot. We are on pace to exceed last year’s visits. R & E is a critical component in providing service to our existing businesses.
Currently there are two projects are worth noting. Graphic Packaging International will be expanding creating 30 new full-time jobs in the next three years. This project also allows for the retention of the existing 230 jobs. The second project is the construction of a new 50,000 square foot facility in the Marion Airport Industrial Park. ReConserve of Ohio will invest $6 million in machinery and equipment and $2 million in construction costs. The project creates 16 new fulltime jobs in three years and retains 21 existing full-time jobs from another Ohio location. Congratulations and a big thank you to the teams that worked on these projects.
On the workforce front we are highlighting Marion Technical College’s Center for Workforce Development (CWD). CWD understands that your company’s performance, productivity, and profits are directly affected by the people who work for you. Skilled employees represent the single greatest competitive advantage of any business. CWD provides targeted, quality employee training and services to help you find and retain qualified workers and enhance employee productivity. Following are just a few:
• Customized instructor led training – Courses include Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Hydraulics, First Aid, CPR, and Electricity Fundamentals. The instructor will meet with the company to asset the needs and formulate a plan. Learn more at http://www.mtc.edu/cwd/customizedtraining.html.
• Online training – The CWD is linked to online training resources for almost any need. From maintenance and mold shop training to modules including lab participation demonstrating increased skills. Companies or Individuals may use this training to gain skills and/or personal development. More at http://www.mtc.edu/cwd/onlinetraining.html.
• Assessments – Assessments and certifications are an ideal method for individuals to demonstrate skills acquisition and competency. The Center for Workforce Development has more than 27 years of experience helping individuals make the right career move at the right time by verifying skills and knowledge, thus providing workers with “proof” of their abilities and accomplishments. Learn more at http://www.mtc.edu/cwd/certifications.html.
• Company Services – the CWD can provide company designed surveys to employees to gauge employee satisfaction, to board members to evaluate a CEO and customers to evaluate services.
Contact Tami Galloway at 740-389-4636, ext. 238 or via email at gallowayt@mtc.edu for more information.
And don’t forget that the Marion Technical College Center for Workforce Development is also the home of MTC WORKS! MTC’s Office of Career Services and The Center for Workforce Development collaborated to develop a program of services to pro-actively recruit employers and individuals creating job matches between employers and qualified individuals. Find more information at http://www.mtc.edu/mtcworks/index.html or Contact Deb Murphy, Career Service Specialist at 740-389-4636, ext. 317 or via email at murphyd@mtc.edu.
Lastly, there is good news on the unemployment rate. Marion’s unemployment rate is trending downward. The January rate was 7.9%, February was 7.3% and March was 6.3%.
Best Regards,
Marion CAN DO Staff