Project HIRE is the best thing to happen to Northeast Ohio manufacturing in a while

By Mary Kaye Denning

Manufacturers, finally, there is assistance from the State and Federal Government that benefits your bottom line. Now, for a limited time, you can cross train your workforce and/or advance the skill sets on your factory floor. Get ready now so that you are ready to tool up quickly and process any order more quickly and profitably.

Manufacturers, you have always gotten a leg up when you used reduced labor costs. You have been globetrotting for years. Now, here in Ohio you can save upwards of 33% on labor costs and gain a well-trained employee to boot? This rocks!

In the past, employment programs have played to the needs of the employee. Now – Cuyahoga County manufacturers you are up! This grant is a cinch to complete. In fact the representatives, Debbie McNeeley and Michael Clock of the Employment Connection, not only walk you through the application, they can also arrange the recruiting, the collection of resumes, and give you a certification that the candidate is ready to go to work. All employment services are at no charge. Employment Connection is the employment resource you’ve been looking for. It’s amazing what they have pulled together to support you.

Funds are available as a result of the federal stimulus package and they are available on a first come, first serve basis. All training must be completed by December 31, 2010. Judging by the enthusiasm it would not be surprising that the funding ($7 million for the State of Ohio) will run out by May, so don’t wait. In the past month alone, I have a steel fabricator cross-training and rehiring their laid off employees, a grinding company bringing back longtime employees, an assembly plant adding 10 new employees, a foundry bumping up employment by six and so on. My list and their employee headcount is rising daily. How exciting!

Check out what Governor Strickland and Senator Brown said in Crain’s Cleveland Business and then call us. Connect with your CIRI Representative at 216.588.1440 ext. 117.