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Keene Area Employers Recruiting Candidates for Machining Training

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

Keene area employers Corning NetOptics, New Hampshire Ball Bearing, Tidland and Knappe & Koester, in partnership with River Valley Community College (RVCC) and the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM) announced today that they are recruiting candidates for a unique training opportunity for CNC Machining. The training will be provided free to participants and will lead directly to full-time positions.

cnc_machining“New Hampshire is leading the region and the nation in economic recovery, and our economic strategy is making a difference. That strategy includes ensuring we have a highly skilled, educated workforce in New Hampshire,” Gov. Lynch said. “By making wise investments in our workers through job training we are helping to ensure we have the workforce companies need to compete and to grow right here in New Hampshire.”

The CNC machinist positions are for first, second and third shift operations, depending on the sponsoring employer. Workers will earn a starting wage of $12 per hour with full benefits. Wages may increase incrementally over two years to $14-16 per hour, based on each individual’s performance.

“We are fortunate to have the challenge of expanding our workforce needs to meet growing demand for our products,” said Michael Platt, Plant Manager at Corning NetOptics.

“How well we meet this challenge will be determined by how well we can hire and educate a trained workforce,” said Donna Marcin, PHR, Human Resources Manager at New Hampshire Ball Bearings.

The initiative will be the first program implemented under the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM). “The Regional Center for Advance Manufacturing is excited to offer this program and we are looking forward to the possibilities that this kind of program offers the Keene area and its employers,” said Susan Newcomer, Workforce Development Coordinator, Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce.  “This program nicely compliments our mission to support and enhance advanced manufacturing is the Keene area.” 

The hiring will be conducted through their partnership with the River Valley Community College’s STAR program. The STAR program launched in December of 2008 offers workers an accelerated, two-year advanced manufacturing apprenticeship while being employed with the employer. At the same time, these workers will earn college credits which can be applied towards an associate’s degree at the college.

“River Valley Community College is committed to the creation of education and training that serve the needs of employers, the New Hampshire workforce, and the economic development needs of the state and our region. This partnership represents a strategy that builds upon the strengths of the college, our state economic development agencies, and the private sector in delivering a truly comprehensive program leading to job placement,” stated Steve Budd, President, River Valley Community College.

“It’s exciting to see the state’s most innovative manufacturers continue to grow and add jobs,” said New Hampshire Department of Resources & Economic Development Commissioner George Bald. “As manufacturing is the state’s number one industry, offering good paying jobs with opportunities for career growth, this is great news.”

Program participants will be selected through a rigorous recruitment process beginning with a mandatory orientation to be held on Monday, January 17th at the River Valley Community College Keene Campus, Keene, NH. The orientation will include presentations from the sponsoring employers’ staffs as well as from River Valley Community College.

Participants will also have the opportunity to receive a nationally recognized industry certification through the USDOL Apprenticeship Division. “The New Hampshire State Apprenticeship Council is proud to be a part of this program,” says Charles Vaughan, of the New Hampshire US/DOL apprenticeship office. “The STAR education model is unique and will give us an opportunity to evaluate a different way of thinking about training apprentices throughout the state.”

The STAR program is funded by two grants from the US Department of Labor, one secured through the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and one secured through the office of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

Applications are encouraged as soon as possible. Individuals interested in applying to the program must visit the college website at www.rivervalley.edu to fill out an online application on or before January 17, 2011. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Jim Britton, River Valley Community College, at (603) 542-7744 x5346, or email at jbritton@ccsnh.edu. Up-to-date program information will be posted regularly on the website.