Archives 2014

Goals have been set to reach “Certified” status

Cathy Wenning, Chair of the Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation and Government and Community Relations Manager for DUKE Energy opened the program “No Foolin’ We’re Going for the Gold” at the April 1st Rotary meeting. This informational program described Rush County’s acceptance to and subsequent participation in the pilot program for individual counties of the ACT Certified Work Ready Communities initiative.

The foundation of a community’s certification is based on individuals at the county level across the current, transitioning and emerging workforce earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) and employers recognizing the NCRC. The NCRC is a portable, industry-recognized credential that clearly identifies an individual’s WorkKeys® skills in reading for information, applied math and locating information.

“WorkOne is the provider of testing here in our Region”, stated John McCane, ECDC Executive Director. “They offer it at the Rush County Courthouse Assembly Room on a monthly basis and will test more often if there is a need. The goal is for a certain percentage of each of the workforce groups to earn a NCRC. So far we are exceeding our goals for the emerging and incumbent workforce; we will be encouraging more individuals who are unemployed or transitioning from the military to take the test and earn that certification. The Work Ready Community designation will serve as an important economic development tool for the county.”

There are also goals for numbers of employers supporting this program. “Having the businesses engaged is of prime importance, said Mayor Mike Pavey. Job seekers will be more inclined to take the test when they know employers value WorkKeys® and recognize the importance of the NCRC. Also, this is such a great “tie-in” to the Manufacturing Matters training program. One of the qualifiers to get accepted into this program is scoring a Level 4 on WorkKeys.”

Several local employers signed support pledges at the April 1st event. These included INTAT, Pioneer and Rush Shelby Energy (pictured). ECDC and WorkOne will be contacting additional employers to explain the benefits of the program and enlist their support.

While spearheaded by the ECDC, this program is one initiative of the K To Success Education Committee. Members of that committee include representatives of the Rush County School Corporation, School Board of Trustees, City and County Government, Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, Ivy Tech, WorkOne, Business Partners, and other community leaders. Rush County Commissioner Ken Masters, who was one of the initial advocates for the ACT program said “Being able to quantify skill levels of potential employees is extremely important to existing businesses as well as to companies we may attract to Rush County”.

Progress towards the goal can be tracked at www.workreadycommunities.org. Simultaneous with todays’ announcement, Rush County’s participation will “go live” on that website.

Economic development officials from Rushville joined Mayor Mike Pavey and Donald Kathan, Area Director for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration to break ground on a new $3 million industrial park on the Northside of the City. The new development is planned for a late-2014 completion.
“This is an exciting step in this process,” said Rushville Redevelopment Commission President John McCane. “This project has been in the works for several years, so there is some genuine exuberance as we move forward.” According to McCane, the development of the industrial park has come to fruition from the labor of five mayors, six economic development directors, dozens of city councilmen, and countless community leaders.
The project is expected to develop complete infrastructure throughout the 80-acre parcel. This will include road construction, extension of water and wastewater line, a fiber network, the development of retention ponds, storm drainage, and lighting.
Cathy Wenning, Chair of the Rush County ECDC believes that this development will open the door for new economic development opportunity for Rushville and Rush County. “This is developer’s dream – this is an economic developer’s dream to be able to have a parcel that is ideal for someone to come in and set up a business. What an ideal location, less than 15 miles to Interstate 70 and 15 miles to Interstate 74. This will be a prime piece of property that will get a lot of looks and hopefully soon will have some buildings going up.”
“I thank the community for the unity they have shown; teamwork and faith they have shown in the project, just genuine persistence,” said Mayor Pavey. I also thank Mayor Bob Bridges whose administration had the forethought to make the purchase of this property. It was a very progressive process. We were usually a pretty reactive community, so having the insight to purchase this property allows us to be here today. The City has determined to make a significant financial investment in the economic development of this community.”

In August, 2012, the EDA awarded $1.66 million to the City of Rushville for the development of the Industrial Park. The City will match these funds with $1.66 million of local dollars. “There is strength, commitment, and diversity of the public and private partners that are involved with a particular project,” said EDA Area Director Donald Kathan. “At EDA, while our grant funds are a small but necessary part, we’re under no illusion to believe or think that that is sufficient to bring a project to fruition and cause success through job creation. We recognize that by leveraging of private sector investment and being able to raise the community, there will be that rising tide to float a lot of boats through that quality of life type of improvement.”

The Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held Monday, March 24th at 11:00 a.m.  2201 North State Road 3, Rushville.  Speakers will include Mayor Mike Pavey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Economic Development Administration Thomas Guevara, Rushville Redevelopment Commission President John McCane and Rush County ECDC Chair Cathy Wenning.

Barada Law Offices, LLC is sponsoring this workshop presented by the partnership of East Central Small Business Development Center, Rush County ECDC and Rush County Chamber of Commerce. Come learn the ins and outs of business management and hear about the myriad  local financing options. The best way to create jobs is to grow our own!  Join us March 12th, 9 A.M. – Noon at River Point Office Suites.  Call 765-938-3232 or email cbunzendahl@rushecdc.org to register.  Launch Your Own Business Flyer

READY FOR MANUFACTURING

RICHMOND — The new fast track training program for good jobs, Manufacturing Matters, graduated its first class Friday.

The program led by Ivy Tech Community College Richmond’s Corporate College in collaboration with WorkOne is accepting applications for the next class that starts Feb. 24.

Twelve area residents celebrated the completion of the program at a job fair and interviewing with local manufacturers who are program partners. The graduates completing the course and examinations earn the nationally recognized certification — Certified Production Technician.

The first class includes Jarrod Andrews and Bob Harding, Connersville; Chris Studt, Laurel; Mary Ann Frazier, Mark Hawkins, Marc Lechuga, Dylan McLemore, Darren McEwen, Rita Robinson and Wilmi Vizcaino, all of Richmond; Randy Tucker, Centerville; and Kenny Warner, Lynn.

Manufacturing employer partners include GE Roots and Stant USA Corporation of Connersville, Color-Box, Emerson Climate Technologies, Johns Manville, Mosey Manufacturing Company, Primex Plastics Corporation, Richmond Baking Company, Trane/Ingersoll Rand and Vandor Corporation.

Feb. 7 is the deadline to apply for the Feb. 24 class. Applicants qualifying for the program receive a full scholarship worth $2,600. To qualify for the program applicants must complete WorkKeys testing, participate in an interview and pass a drug screening.

Training includes safety, quality and measurement, manufacturing production and maintenance awareness. Participants learn valuable skills and receive an orientation to what it’s like to work in manufacturing, equipping them to make better decisions in seeking employment. To learn more and apply online visit manufacturingmatters.info.

Duke Energy, the Economic Growth Group, Wayne County Foundation, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County are among program funders.

WorkOne coordinates the application and qualification process. Ivy Tech Community College Richmond’s Corporate College and WorkOne provide the job training and employability skills.

Manufacturing Matters is a collaborative effort of the Economic Development Group of Connersville, Mayor’s Office City of Connersville, Connersville Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, the Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, Rush County Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Office City of Richmond, Mayor’s Office City of Rushville, WorkOne, Ivy Tech Corporate College and manufacturing employers.

Applicants are urged to apply now at manufacturingmatters.info. For more information, contact Acacia St. John, astjohn@work-one.org or Gail Martin, gmartin@work-one.org or 765-962-8591 ext. 2702.

Published January 31, 2014 by News Examiner

Even if you could not join us for the first “training” class, join in on this Roundtable discussion group all about the uses of Social Media in your business. No charge to get a chance to talk to Chris Wilkey of Hosskey who promotes “digital success for small businesses”. Call either Sandy Fussner at Chamber of Commerce (765-932-2880), or Carolyn Bunzendahl at ECDC (765-938-3232) to register. Social Media Roundtable pdf