Manufacturers Receive State Training Funds through ECC

Six local industries are benefiting from a total of $175,000 in matching grants from a state program that is designed to offset training costs.

Each company works with the East Central College Center for Workforce Development (CWD) to provide an opportunity for training, and to secure the funding from the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

Through the Missouri One Start Customized Training program the following manufacturers were awarded matching training grants: Clemco, Washington; Ziglin Signs, Washington; WEG Transformers, Washington; Klauber Machine & Gear, Pacific; Hodges Badge Company, Inc., Washington; and Homeyer Precision Manufacturing, Marthasville.

The grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 this year.

Training provided by the CWD range from leadership development, safety training, introductory welding programs, project management to LEAN and Six Sigma training.

Each company matches 100 percent of the state funding. Learn more about the program by contacting the CWD team at training@eastcentral.edu, or visit missourionestart.com/.

To learn more about CWD industry training and consulting visit www.eastcentral.edu/cwd/.

Benefitting Businesses

According to Robin Bellis, Clemco manager of contract administration and credit, Clemco has been utilizing Missouri One Start Grant Program funds for more than 10 years.

She said in this round of funding, Clemco will facilitate its Lean continuous improvement program; and fund training in software, industrial ventilation, metallurgy instruction and leadership.

“East Central College has been instrumental in developing and delivering several of the programs made custom for Clemco’s specific needs,” Bellis said. “In particular, the College built a specific curriculum for the metallurgy program that will be delivered on Clemco’s site at our convenience.

“We’ve found this type of custom training is most effective as it targets our very specific training requirements,” She added.

Bellis said the College has worked with Clemco to provide flexible training methods, including classroom sessions, on-site at Clemco and online options.

“The variety of venues and delivery options offered through the College have allowed us to schedule training at times and locations that best suit our employees,” she commented.

Lacey Oswald, with WEG Transformers, said the company will utilize funds to train new employees for a third facility slated to open in spring 2021.

“We will also utilize the funds to increase the skill base of our existing employees,” she said. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to invest in our employees in the manner.”

Oswald added that the College staff at the CWD have helped WEG with every step of the Customized Training Grant program.

“They help us coordinate finding vendors for training, they help us fill out our reimbursement forms, they even make sure our application is filled out correctly for the grant,” Oswald added. “Any time we have a question they are always there to walk us through anything we need.”