State releases more funds for job training

The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Workforce Development July 25 distributed $3.5 million in fiscal year 2006 training grants through the Missouri Customized Training Program. Earlier in the month, Gov. Matt Blunt announced the release of $2.4 million in assistance.

Funds will be used to offset costs of training and upgrade skills of Missouri workers. More than 9,462 employees at 63 companies will receive classroom training.

Five Springfield businesses received funds: Edmonds Dental Prosthetics Inc., $34,500; Kraft Foods Inc., $31,625; Reckitt Benckiser Inc., $28,750; Ridewell Corp., $20,125; and SRC Training Consortium, $57,500.

Marita Dreiling, CPA, controller at Edmonds, said the dental lab will use the funds to train new and existing employees in tooth morphology at the company’s on-site training facility.

“Technology is changing all the time – there are different systems and materials that have to be used,” she said. “Things change so fast. We have to keep up, or we’ll be left behind.”

Ozarks Technical Community College helps administer training programs for companies that received funds but do not have an on-site facility.

Funds for training were appropriated by the General Assembly to the Missouri Job Development Fund, which helps new or expanding businesses train employees in newly created jobs and to retrain or upgrade skills of existing employees.

“One of Missouri’s best incentives toward attracting business is our high-quality, skilled and productive work force,” Blunt said in a news release.[[In-content Ad]]