Three Rivers to provide job training for Noranda workers

NEW MADRID -- Gov. Jay Nixon announced a projected $8 million in incentives designed to retain jobs at Noranda, during a visit to the aluminum processing plant Wednesday.

A central component of the economic development package is a $2 million contract through the Missouri Division of Workforce Development. Noranda qualified for the funds because the company invested in new equipment and shifted 300 workers to repair existing facilities following heavy damages from the January ice storm.

Noranda will work with Three Rivers Community College to deliver training for about 900 employees under the Missouri Community College Retention Job Training Program. A portion of taxes collected from the employees will be withheld to pay for the instruction and materials over a two-year period.

"We are the workforce development engine of this region, and we're going to reach out and form as many partnerships as we can, because it is a critical vehicle to improve the quality of life for everyone in this half of the state," said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers.

Three Rivers will receive more than $250,000 to administer the program along with what college officials said they hope will be the majority of an $800,000 classroom budget for using its own faculty to provide the training. For the more technical aspects of the training, which includes industrial maintenance and carbon processing manufacturing procedures, Three Rivers will be responsible for soliciting a third party.

"We're talking about a major investment in individual workers here in Southeast Missouri," Nixon said. "An investment that will stick with these workers throughout their careers."

The additional revenue for Three Rivers comes in unison with another five-year partnership with Orgill, a hardware distribution plant in Sikeston that began operating more than a year ago. Orgill has recently been approved for a $600,000 project under the Missouri Community College New Jobs Training Program. The college will receive more than $75,000 to deliver the program, and a portion of a $250,000 budget to train the new employees.

Three Rivers was asked to participate in both programs since the cities fall within the community college's service area. Bud Joyner, Three Rivers dean of career education and workforce development, has been working out the details with industry officials since January.

The last time a similar opportunity through Jefferson City became available for Three Rivers was 15 years ago. The college facilitated training for Sikeston's Patriotic Homes, along with Unilever Ice Cream and Hudson Foods, now Tyson, both located in Dexter.