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Training program to ready 120 new workers

BY: JOHN D. HOMAN
THE SOUTHERN

Sunday, February 5, 2006 1:35 AM CST

MARION - Reacting to what was perceived to be a shortage of workers in the manufacturing, transportation and logistics sectors in Southern Illinois, Gov. Rod Blagojevich recently released $240,000 in state funds through the Opportunity Returns program to help train potential new workers.

The Southern Economic Development Region Consortium will receive the monies to implement the Work-Certified Training Program, a short-term training and credentialing program designed to provide employers with the front-line production workers of the future.

The Work Certified Program establishes skill benchmarks, set and adopted by employers, which equip individuals to succeed in the workplace. The program will be delivered through a partnership of manufacturing employers, six area community colleges and One-Stop Centers located throughout the region that will produce 120 skilled workers.

Employer partners include: Crownline Boats in West Frankfurt, Aisin in Marion, Maytag in Herrin, General Cable in Du Quoin, Circuit City in Marion, MPP Management in Du Quoin, Sun Transformer in McLeansboro, Pepsi MidAmerica in Marion, Airtex Products in Fairfield and Baldwin Manufacturing in McLeansboro.

Southern Illinois' regional economy is facing serious short-term and long-term shortages of skilled workers because of three interrelated factors:

L There is a skill gap between worker supply and industry demand. While Illinois is transitioning to higher value-added, advanced manufacturing jobs that require higher skills, it doesn't currently have the needed people to fill these positions.

L Illinois manufacturers are creating new jobs at a faster rate than it can fill them. Many employers are very competitive and growing at an aggressive rate, but have a real shortage of skilled workers to meet the increased demand they are experiencing.

L Finally, Illinois' manufacturing workforce is aging and will soon need to replace large numbers of retiring skilled workers.

The state funding comes ironically on the heels of manufacturing job loss in the region with recent layoff announcements at the American Coal Company in Saline County, the TUMS packaging plant in Pinckneyville and the Maytag laundry products plant in Herrin, for example.

Man-Tra-Con Executive Director Kathy Lively said the funding was well-intentioned and that the governor can't be blamed for recent job loss in Southern Illinois, not when a little more than a year ago, some of the same employers were asking for assistance from the state.

"This (funding) is in response to what manufacturers told us they wanted and needed at the time," Lively said. "The governor simply answered that request."

Lively said that the funding will allow for up to 120 displaced workers to become retrained and work-certified, having mastered a number of competencies or skill sets that other applicants fail to have.

Moreover, it will allow for displaced workers to become better educated and enhance their employment opportunities.

"We've already hosted one pilot class so far and there were two displaced workers who realized they qualified for funding to go to college," Lively said. "One of the biggest problems people have is that they don't have the confidence to do college work. But that's why we're here - to help these people develop confidence and skills."

Manufacturers from the 19-county area noted a "work-ready" workforce was crucial to Southern Illinois' future.

"Economic prosperity comes to those who are ready," Lively said. "The Southern Economic Development Region pledges to have an excellent workforce of hundreds of 'work-ready' employees as an essential element to future growth and opportunity in Southern Illinois."

State Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) said an important aspect of strengthening the economic future of Southern Illinois is to help provide workers with the training they need to meet the demands of their fields and the challenges in the region.

"I want to thank the governor for awarding needed funding for this program, which is aimed at helping workers develop the skills and expertise needed to move Southern Illinois forward," Bradley said.

john.homan@thesouthern.com

(618) 351-5056