Free Workforce Development training offered this summer

[May 21, 2015]  LINCOLN - Two informational meetings have been scheduled for anyone who is unemployed or under-employed and interested in participating in a free workforce development training program this summer.

The meetings are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th at 4 p.m. and Friday, May 22nd at Noon. Each meeting will be held at Heartland Community College’s Downtown Lincoln Center, located at 620 Broadway, Lincoln, Illinois.

Information will be presented at each session regarding a free training opportunity designed to provide short-term training for jobs with manufacturers in Logan County and surrounding areas. The training is made possible through the Accelerated Training for Illinois Manufacturing (ATIM) program. The Logan County Economic Development Partnership worked with representatives from Logan County manufacturers, Heartland Community College, and the ATIM program to identify training needs of area manufacturers, which were then used to design the course of study included in the ATIM program.

The workforce development training focuses on four areas of study that are based on standards set by the Manufacturing Skills Standard Council. The areas of study include: Safety/OSHA training, Quality Control, Manufacturing Processes-Lean Manufacturing, and Machine Troubleshooting/Maintenance. In addition, the training includes an adult education component designed to enhance participant’s skills in basic math, workplace ethics/etiquette, writing resumes, and job interviewing. Successful completion of the training program will earn participants designation as a Certified Production Technician (CPT).

Tentative dates for the free training program are June 15th through August 7th. The training will take place at the Downtown Lincoln Center of Heartland Community College. In addition to instruction provided by Heartland Community College instructors, the training will include presentations by area manufacturers and the possibility of plant tours.

Interested individuals are encouraged to attend either of the two informational meetings to learn more about this free training opportunity. For individuals selected to participate in the ATIM program, assistance with transportation is also offered. The training is designed to help individuals prepare for and make connections needed for them to secure full-time employment. For additional information, please call 217-651-8193 or 217-820-0577.

[Bill Thomas, Logan County Economic Development Partnership]