JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that Missouri Works Training will help more than 300 companies throughout the state improve the skills of their workers and expand their businesses, creating 970 new jobs. These companies will make a combined $1.3 billion in capital investments and provide next-generation training to more than 33,000 current employees.
“A highly-skilled workforce is essential to Missouri’s ability to create jobs and compete and win in the global economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “These strategic, performance-based investments through our Missouri Works Training program will benefit communities in every corner of our state. Missouri Works Training gives workers the opportunity to sharpen their skills, and businesses the ability to expand, invest and create more jobs in our communities. It’s a win-win.”
A total of $10.4 million has been approved through the Missouri Works Training Program to help companies strengthen their workforce by accessing next-generation training. Those companies are in industries that include advanced manufacturing, automotive, biosciences, energy solutions, financial and professional services, and IT.
The training funds can be utilized to upgrade worker skills to prepare for new products, processes, or new technologies, to improve productivity or quality, or to on-board and train new workers as a result of an expansion or relocation.
For example, American Air Filter (AAF) International, a global manufacturer of air filtration systems for numerous industries including nuclear power and transportation, will utilize $30,000 in state grants and work with the State Technical College of Missouri to train its Columbia workforce. As a result of acquiring a new product line and investing $1.4 million to expand the operations and install new equipment, its Columbia plant will hire and train 10 new positions as well as upgrade the skills of 46 current employees.
AAF operates in 22 countries and expects an increase in productivity and profitability for its Missouri facility, which is one of the company’s only ISO Certified locations. The company recently opened a dedicated training room specifically designed to teach a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement throughout their facility.
“Our customers demand a level of quality and on time delivery that can only be achieved through a skilled, cross-trained workforce and an ongoing quality policy. These are the things that keep us prominent in a highly competitive world,” said Jeff Simon, HR Manager of Operations at AAF. “American Air Filter is committed to providing training to employees and state funding helps achieve those goals.”
The Missouri Works Training is a customizable and flexible program driven by the needs of the business. The program provides training assistance to large and small as well as urban and rural companies making significant investments into their Missouri facilities.
Working across the aisle, Gov. Nixon in 2013 signed legislation to implement Missouri Works, a comprehensive strategy to support economic growth and create career opportunities for Missourians. Missouri Works consolidated Missouri’s four existing business development incentives into a single, business-friendly program with a uniform set of definitions and a streamlined application process to cut through red tape. This legislation also consolidated Missouri’s workforce training programs and aligned them more closely with the state’s other economic development programs, creating Missouri Works Training.
Administered by the Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development, Missouri Works Training partners with community colleges and technical education institutions to develop and offer a variety of training. Examples of training include specific technical skills, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, Team Building, Communication, Safety, and International Quality Standards and Leadership.
For more information, visit business.mo.gov/training.
