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Manufacturing 101 in Lee County

Jason Parrott
/
TSPR
Siemens Wind Energy is one of the businesses partnering with LCEDG on the Manufacturing 101 course.

The Lee County Economic Development Group (LCEDG) declared 2015 as a year of action, be it by trying to retain existing jobs and businesses or recruiting new ones. The organization will also spend the rest of the year offering a workforce training opportunity in the form of Manufacturing 101.
 
Registration is now underway for the course, which will run Oct. 20 through January. The application deadline is Oct. 9, with a total of 15 spots available.
 
LCEDG's Dana Millard said the idea behind Manufacturing 101 is to help people, who are unemployed or underemployed, improve their skills in areas such as critical reading, mathematics, and understanding blueprints. She said it will also give the graduates an advantage with the participating businesses.
 
"If you graduate from this program, those (11) different manufacturers have agreed to provide a first look to graduates," said Millard.
 
Manufacturing 101 will be held twice a week at Southeastern Community College's Fort Madison center. The program will also take participants inside businesses and industries throughout Lee County.
 
Millard said the course is free, with a preference given to Lee County residents. She said transportation and child-care will also be available to help people participate in the class.
 
"LCEDG has listened to our manufacturing partners regarding the skills they need in entry level applicants," said Millard. "We tailored this program to meet the needs of our manufacturers. As a result, many community industry professionals are on board with the program."
 
 
Participating Manufacturers

  • Allied Blending & Ingredients
  • Axalta Coatings
  • Climax Molybdenum
  • Cryotech Deicing Technology
  • DuPont
  • Independent Can Company
  • Roquette America
  • Scotts Miracle Gro
  • Siemens Wind Energy
  • Steffensmeier Welding
  • Pinnacle Foods
Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.