Category News

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

Due to the generous support of Duke Energy, Rush County residents can take advantage of this great training worth at least $2600! Getting certified as a Production Technician will qualify participants for many area jobs.  These are high skill, high wage jobs that will go unfilled if enough trainees are not found. Call today to find out how YOU can become involved!

The Rushville Redevelopment Commission has awarded a construction contract to a Seymour firm to begin the long-awaited development of an 80-acre industrial park on the north side of the City. King’s Trucking and Excavation, Inc. was awarded the $2.7 million contract.

“We have been anxiously anticipating this milestone since last August when we were awarded federal funds to help move this project forward” said Rushville Mayor Mike Pavey. Shortly after taking office, Pavey led a delegation of local leaders and economic development officials to Washington D.C. to lobby the U. S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and congressional leaders regarding issues, needs and projects that are important to the Rushville and Rush County 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 for the development of the industrial park.

The Project, located at North State Road 3 and County Road 200 North, will consist of developing an 80-acre parcel of land into a fully developed industrial park. This will include road construction, extension of water and wastewater line, the development of retention ponds, storm drainage, and lighting.

“Everyone talks about being ‘shovel ready’ when they discuss industrial parks”, said Economic Development Director John McCane. “When people think of growth opportunities in Rushville, we want them to know that Rushville’s new industrial park is ‘backhoe ready’ and available for immediate industrial development”.

McCane, who also is the President of the City Redevelopment Commission, shared that during the next ten to fourteen days the Contractor, Engineers, Grant Administrators, City leaders and EDA officials in Chicago will be finalizing contract documents, performance bonding, and scheduling a pre-construction conference before a groundbreaking date can be set.

“Although this is not the optimal time to be starting this project”, said project engineer, Mark Chmeliwskyj, “We are hopeful that the contractor will be able to begin some aspects of the project yet this year”. The firm of Butler Fairman & Seufert has been hired for construction engineering and construction inspection of the project.

Does your business want to “Jump on the Social Media Bandwagon”, but you are wondering where to start? Well, help is on the way! In response to numerous requests, the Economic & Community Development Corporation and the Rush County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the East Central Small Business Development Center to offer “Social Media 101 – Where Do I Start?”
It is tempting to jump in and start a blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, but we know your marketing will be more successful if you start with the basics. Before starting on a social media campaign, you need to know what social media actually is and how others use it on a daily basis. This training will take a look at how social media is used in the business world and will go through the basics of each social media platform. It will be presented by Chris Wilkey, founder and CEO of Hosskey Consulting. Chris has worked with many companies and helped them create communities online.
Space is limited so be sure to register soon for this event that will be held November 14th, 8:00 a.m. to Noon at the Chamber office, 315 N. Main. Cost is $30 per person; $25 if ECDC or Chamber member. To register, go to: http://isbdc.ecenterdirect.com/Conferences.action. If questions, call the ECDC office at 938-3232.

Construction goes on night and day as Farm Credit Mid-America builds their new Regional Center.

Twelve Small Businesses will be Awarded Individual Grants of $250,000!

Mission Main Street Grants is an effort by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (“Chase”) to increase awareness of the important role small businesses play in local communities and to help small businesses grow. Chase will provide funds designed to enable an eligible established for-profit small business to use the Grant to execute a business plan that will result in expansion and growth of the small business. The deadline to complete applications is October 31, 2013.

For More Information and to Apply GO TO :https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/

Rushville Farm Credit Mid-America is growing! They have chosen to expand their operations and remain in Rushville. First opening in the 1970’s, today they have a team of 8 employees servicing $115 million in loan volume. Gary Coleman, Regional Vice President hosted the groundbreaking event as the formal greeter and spoke to the group about the business and the journey of selecting a new site. Several Farm Credit board members attended and offered a few words on behalf of the directors. Mayor Mike Pavey and ECDC Director John McCane also spoke. They thanked Farm Credit for the decision to stay in Rushville and for contributing to the growth of agri-business in Rush County. Pictured are staff, board members, Chamber and ECDC Directors, Mayor Pavey, Commissioner Ken Masters and other elected officials.

Rush County announces its participation in ACT’s Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC), a national workforce development initiative designed to assist counties in developing their workforce pipeline to provide skilled workers for employers. The Rush County Economic & Community Development Corporation (ECDC) recently received word of acceptance into the initial county Academy, an executive leadership and training program that will be held October 21 -22 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The CWRC initiative provides a framework for certifying counties as “Work Ready”. ACT awards this certification when counties achieve percentage goals of individuals in the workforce earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) and businesses recognizing and preferring the NCRC. This standardized workforce skill credential is earned by taking and scoring a certain level on the ACT WorkKeys test. These certificates help assure employers that the people hired or advanced will have foundational skills to succeed. The certificates also act like passports, regardless of where an individual lives or moves, the certificates testify to work readiness.

“One of the first questions being asked by new companies searching for land or buildings is ‘what’s your local workforce like?’ Being able to advertise the fact that Rush County has a certain percentage of its workforce that has earned the NCRC will be a huge advantage and is a great economic development tool, said John McCane, ECDC Executive Director. “Once we learned that ACT was opening the CWRC program to individual counties, we convened a Leadership Team to discuss the opportunity and put together the application. That team consists of ECDC, County Commissioner Ken Masters, Mayor Mike Pavey, Chamber Director Sandy Fussner, Rush County School Superintendent John Williams, Assistant Superintendent Matt Vance, Ivy Tech Corporate College representative Kim Thurlow, WorkOne representatives Melissa Leaming, Jody Springer and Leslie Shaul and Industry Representative INTAT, David Reid. When we learned of our acceptance into the program, the Leadership Team designated Carolyn Bunzendahl, ECDC Client Services Manager, and Melissa Leaming from WorkOne to attend the Academy. At the Academy, they will learn more about ACT’s testing infrastructure, data gathering and reporting. They will establish performance metrics for Rush County. ACT will assist and provide technical support as we work together to achieve those goals. The monthly data that ACT will generate will provide solid evidence that our community has the skilled workforce to support economic growth.”

For more information on this initiative, call the ECDC at 765-938-3232 or go to http://workreadycommunities.org.

All motorcyclists are invited to join ABATE of Indiana on the annual motorcycle ride with Governor Mike Pence. This is a benefit ride for the Indiana National Guard Relief Fund. Motorcycles should arrive in Rushville approximately 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 4th. Everyone if invited to come to the Rushville Park (near swimming pool) on Friday to hear the Governor speak and to meet the riders. Governor Ride to Rushville