Area manufacturers learn of workforce development resources

[April 02, 2015]  Logan County manufacturers, including representatives from Eaton Corporation, Heritage Packaging, and the Ardagh Group (the bottle factor) in Lincoln joined with representatives from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Heartland Community College at a Manufacturer’s Council meeting on Wednesday, March 25.

The purpose of the meeting was to brief Logan County manufacturers regarding workforce development training programs and resources available to their companies from a variety of sources.

The meeting was a follow-up to the successful workforce development training program held last year. Wednesday’s meeting was designed to gather input from Logan County manufacturers regarding their training needs in order to inform the design of the training program offered this year.

The resource representatives on hand to assist Logan County manufacturers included: Larry Peterson, Project Manager of the Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM) program; Jennifer Feaman, Associate Director of Customized Training at Heartland Community College, and Lindsay Thompson, Heartland Community College Customized Training. The meeting was organized and facilitated by Bill Thomas, Ex. Dir. of the Logan County Economic Development Partnership (LCEDP). Patti Becker, Human Resources Manager of Eaton, acted as host.

At the conclusion of the Manufacturer’s Council, follow-up steps were identified to establish a schedule for this year’s training and for final refinements to the curriculum that will be offered. It is anticipated that this year’s training program will begin in June and be completed in August. Additional schedule details, as well as qualifications for anyone interested in participating in the training will be released in April. In the meantime, the LCEDP will continue to reach out to Logan County manufacturers unable to attend the Manufacturer’s Council so that they, too, have the opportunity to avail themselves of the workforce development resources. All Logan County Manufacturers are encouraged to contact the LLCDP office for further information.

[Bill Thomas, Logan County Economic Development Partnership]