State OKs job training grants for three local businesses

The first round of grants will be used used to train more than 6,700 employees in Missouri.

Nearly $2.4 million in state job-training money has been awarded to 81 Missouri manufacturers, including first-round grants to three local companies with several more businesses to be named in coming weeks.

All of the companies that get the Missouri Customized Training Program funds intend to use it for the same purpose -- to upgrade worker skills and improve productivity.

Under the state assistance program, Procter & Gamble's local plant is getting $34,500 to train 84 employees, S&W Cabinets in Chaffee is getting $8,263 to train 10 employees and Ole Hickory Pits in Cape Girardeau is getting $6,900 to train 15 employees.

"It is important to create high-paying, high-quality jobs," said Paul Sloca, a spokesman for the Missouri Department of Economic Development. "This will provide a boost to some companies that need training."

Funds through the Customized Training Program will be used to facilitate classroom training for more than 6,700 new or existing employees at Missouri companies, Sloca said.

The funds are the first round of training grants to be released in the state's current fiscal year, which began July 1. Companies will use the funds to pay for training programs customized to their particular industry and local needs.

Bev Hickam, director of business and industry at Mineral Area College, wrote grant proposals for 26 businesses in this area. She said this is just the first round of grants and that quite a few more businesses will get funded for training programs later this month.

Procter & Gamble's human resources manager Mike Jennewein said the paper products manufacturer is using its portion of the funds to train 84 new employees.

"That money offset some of the expenses of training those new people," Jennewein said.

At Ole Hickory Pits in Cape Girardeau, controller David Scherer said the money will probably go to leadership training for the employees at the barbecue smoker manufacturer.

Last year, Ole Hickory Pits used the money to send their team leaders to some supervisory training courses.

"It was about managing people," Scherer said. "It was also about managing yourself and working in a team atmosphere. It helped out quite a bit."

Their employees also got some quality control training and some welders to get further training.

"It's very helpful," Scherer said of the state program that provides a local match from companies. "It cut our costs. Plus, it gives us the opportunity to tailor the teaching to what our people need."

Tom Brandtner, the general manager of S&W Cabinets in Chaffee, said in the past the company has used the funds to improve the efficiency and productivity of workers.

This year, he said, they are planning on getting employees trained on some new equipment. He said they are also trying to cut back on maintenance costs by training some employees to do it instead of having to bring in experts.

The program is offered through the DED's Division of Workforce Development in cooperation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137