Training for both management and quality control is important to any business.
With help from the Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce Manufacturer's Council and the Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, Eastern Jackson County now has a one-of-a-kind training program that welcomes any business, big or small, to join its workforce training consortium.
At the moment, the Eastern Jackson County Workforce Training Consortium is comprised of mostly Lee's Summit companies. The complete list includes Polytainers, Billy Goat Industries, FabTech, Fike Corporation, Haldex Brake Products, Kohl's Distribution Center, Plastic Enterprises Co., Nu-Tech Industries, Ruskin Company, St Gobain-Calmar, Toys R' Us and Unilever Best Foods.
Jim Devine, EDC Executive Director, said the consortium not only helps companies lower their costs for training, it also opens up networking opportunities and allows the corporations to have a voice in the civic arena on complicated issues.
"It becomes a forum and platform for companies solving mutual problems," Devine said.
These problems include taxation issues, affordable housing for employees, daycare and city government processes.
The consortium becomes a private sector leadership group by bringing their mutual concerns to the table for ideas and feedback, Devine said. Following a recent needs assessment, the consortium will begin its training sessions this summer.
The information of the consortium began at least two years ago through the Manufacturer's Council. At first, the council saw a need for better training their first-line supervisors. Then the idea of workforce training was bounced around, compelling the council to take a deeper look at the issue.
The EDC funded a feasibility study to determine if there was interest in forming a training consortium. It also helped start the consortium's bank account at First National Bank with a $300 deposit, Devine said.
Jennifer Yazell, training consultant with the Business & Technology Center of the Metropolitan Community Colleges, was retained to complete the study.
"The Business and Technology Center is the local education agency that is sponsoring the consortium," Yazell said.
She said the training covers four basic skills: Management and supervisory, communication, manufacturing and production and quality assurance.
Yazell said the consortium is meeting regularly and is now working on a submittal for state customized training dollars. The $50,000 request is being sent to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Division of Workforce Development.
Devine said the group is already sharing training modules, inviting one another to attend training sessions. "The state funding is icing on the cake," he said.
Besides a strong interest from corporations, the surrounding communities are also very interested in lending a hand as well. Joining the Lee's Summit EDC are economic development councils from Blue Springs, Independence and Grandview.
Yazell said Longview Community College also offered to assist the consortium by offering space for a training site. She anticipates 200 to 500 employees will benefit from the training sessions.
"It will last for as long as members participate and have common training needs," Yazell said. "I think it has a great future."
Ron Haughton, plant manager for Polytainers in Lee's Summit and chairman of the consortium, said the consortium groups together with similar needs. Although its membership is diverse, the needs of the corporations are similar in needs for leadership training and quality control, he said. "You can stretch your dollar more in group activities," Haughton said.
Some of the members already have their own training programs, and are opening up to the group to piggy back on the work of the consortium, he said. Sharing in the cost simply helps everyone involved, he said.
When asked what types of training employees at Polytainers require, Haughton said this was included in the recent needs assessment. The need is broad and includes continuous training for new managers and supervisors as employees continue to move through the system.
Technical training may not be as general as everyone in the group would like, that's why Haughton proposes to form subcommittees to help meet everyone's needs.
As chairman of the consortium, Haughton said he serves as spokesman, facilitates meetings and helps determine common training needs.
Although half of the group is from Lee's Summit, Haughton said it should encompass all of Eastern Jackson County and include companies of all sizes.
The Lee's Summit Journal, Matt Bird-Meyer, April 12, 2002.
Jim Devine is 2010 Missouri Professional Economic Developer of the Year
