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New Job Creation at Gates Aided by Prairie Tech and DCEO
August 22, 2008  KENT KRIEGSHAUSER/The Register-Mail Logan Stiers, plant manager for the Gates Corporation in Galesburg, speaks Friday morning as Jolene Willis, Executive Director for the Western Illinois Economic Development Partnership, listens at a press conference held at the USWA union hall to announce new jobs at Gates. Prairie Tech Learning Center, a training service provider located in Monmouth, received an Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) of $50,000 to aid local manufacturers with training costs. Through the assistance of the DCEO Opportunity Returns Regional Economic Developer, Sal Garza, Prairie Tech was able to offer Gates $12,500 of the grant funds to offset 50% of the training cost associated with bringing on new staff at the Galesburg Facility. The Gates Corporation has been working closely with the state on a number of incentives that aided them in their recent job creation and on-going expansion. “The Prairie Tech Learning Center and the Western Illinois Economic Development Partnership, an assertive regional economic development organization based in Monmouth, are working hard to meet the training needs of area businesses in support of a stronger business climate,” stated Garza. “Connecting Gates with the ETIP grant funds available through Prairie Tech was a best practice step in helping local businesses to find effective resources that are available.” Prairie Tech Learning Center, a part of the Western Illinois Economic Development Partnership (WIEDP), applied for grant funding to help area manufacturers stay current with industry norms and technological advancements. The grant funds were targeted as matching funds to reimburse manufacturers for 50% employee training costs. At Gates the $12,500 was used to train new employees on the computer systems, forklift operation, lean manufacturing, and other necessary skills at the manufacturing plant. “We applied for the ETIP grant for our local manufacturers because training is a crucial component in keeping our workforce competitive, and therefore indispensable in retaining and attracting jobs,” noted WIEDP Executive Director Jolene Willis. Prairie Tech Learning Center Director Linda Lee Blaine added, “Logan Stiers-Plant Manager and Jane Cramer-Human Resource Manager at Gates Galesburg facility have been wonderful to work with and we were happy to be able to assist this business in bringing jobs to our area.” Prairie Tech Learning Center has been able to provide matching funds to nine manufacturers in the West Central Illinois Region through the ETIP grant. The companies that have benefited from these grant funds include; NTN Bower (Macomb), Methode (Carthage), Fusion Tech (Roseville), IMI MCR (Monmouth), The Alliance (Monmouth), Farmland Foods (Monmouth), Blick Corporation (Galesburg), East Moline Metals (East Moline), and Gates Corporation (Galesburg). Carl Sandburg College, Blackhawk College, New Horizons of Central Illinois, and internal trainers provided the training for the companies. Classes were given both at Prairie Tech Learning Center and on location at the companies. Prairie Tech Learning Center intends to reapply for ETIP funding for the 2009 fiscal year in order to continue to assist local manufacturers with employee training. For more information on the ETIP grant and eligibility for funding, contact Linda Blaine, Prairie Tech Director, at 309-734-1068 or llblaine@wiedp.org. For more information: Please contact Jolene Willis. Phone: 309-734-4253 Email: jwillis@wiedp.org |