January 16, 2009

Purdue, Vincennes universities to train displaced workers

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center, administered by Purdue, is working with Vincennes University and The Apprentice Academy to offer technical training and advanced manufacturing instruction to RV and other displaced workers in Elkhart, Knox, Nappanee, Plymouth, Rochester, South Bend, Warsaw and surrounding communities. Workers can learn new trades, such as precision metalworking, welding and industrial maintenance.

"We're taking the training to displaced workers right in their backyard," said Dietra Rosenkoetter, MEP senior account manager. "Vincennes University will provide training in the technical skills, and Purdue will train in manufacturing techniques. This includes lean manufacturing tools, quality systems, 'green' sustainability, problem solving, change management, conflict resolution, and essential communication skills in the workplace. Our goal is to help as many people as possible in this economic downturn."

Workers can enroll through June 30, and classes will take 10-12 weeks to complete. The training is funded by $13 million in state and federal grants.

"When there are emergencies and layoffs that are large in scope over a short period of time, the State of Indiana makes these funds available to help workers seek better jobs," said Marc Lotter, Department of Workforce Development director of communication. "These funds also are available to displaced workers outside of the RV industry. We provide assistance to workers in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties who are unemployed as a result of flood damage caused by Hurricane Ike, for example."

Suzanne Wheeler, The Apprentice Academy director, said classes will be limited to 10-20 students and the training will apply to jobs in high demand.

"We're providing them with the skills they'll need for the jobs of today and the future economy," Wheeler said.

Steve Hartz, The Apprentice Academy president and president of Value Production Inc., a machine production facility in South Bend, said jobs are available for people with the right skills and work ethic.

"In advanced manufacturing, it's actually a growth market," Hartz said. "We grew 25 percent last year and hired six people in the last month."

Charles Weaver, Starke County Development Foundation executive director, said this training opportunity could not have come at a better time.

"We are the lowest per capita income county in Indiana," Weaver said. "The only way to change that is through more training."

Weaver said the job market will be better for workers with sought-after skills.

"Five hundred jobs will be coming with the Sysco food redistribution facility this summer," Weaver said. "If we can identify the people who want this training and match them with resources       such as the training grants, we can prepare them for those jobs."

For more information about the training program, contact the The Apprentice Academy at (574) 234-5918, or e-mail Wheeler at Suzanne@taain.org.

Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu  

Sources: Dietra Rosenkoetter, (317) 275-6812, dietra@purdue.edu

Marc Lotter, (317) 232-3396, mlotter@dwd.in.gov

Suzanne Wheeler, (574) 250-0528, Suzanne@taain.org

Steve Hartz (574) 246-1913, steve@taain.org

Charles Weaver, (574) 772-5627, execdir@starkecounty.com

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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