Briggs gets grant for employee training

Business Today

POPLAR BLUFF -- Briggs & Stratton is one of 11 Southeast Missouri companies awarded state financial assistance to provide classroom training to their employees.

Briggs & Stratton received $31,050 from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and its Division of Workforce Development.

According to Bud Joyner, director of business and industrial training at Three Rivers Community College, Briggs & Stratton is using the funds to offer two sections each of five technical skills classes for about 200 of its employees.

"That's the way many of their employees get their promotions," Joyner said. "For some of their better-paying jobs they have to complete all these classes to even be eligible to apply for those jobs. It's a real incentive for employees to get these classes, and it's a good way for Briggs to have people trained and ready for those positions when they open up."

The state funds for the training is not always what the applications request, and lately with state budget cuts has dwindled by about half from previous years. Joyner said that companies like Briggs & Stratton realize the value of workforce training and have agreed to pick up the slack from their own funds.

Other companies working with TRCC include ArvinMeritor in Dexter and Parker Hannifin in Kennett.

Other companies in Southeast Missouri that were financed through other schools include companies in Bloomfield, Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Jackson, Perryville and Ste. Genevieve.

Throughout the state, more than $4.5 million was allocated to train more than 1,300 new or existing employees in 75 Missouri businesses.