Gov. Jay Nixon announced Friday Missouri Works Training will help more than 300 companies in the state improve the skills of their workers and expand their business, creating 970 new jobs, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
The news release states the companies will make a combined $1.3 billion in capital investments and provide training to more than 33,000 current employees.
“These strategic, performance-based investments through our Missouri Works Training program will benefit communities in every corner of our state,” Nixon said in the news release. “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 program to help companies provide training, according to the news release. The companies are in industries that include 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.
According to the news release:
"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."
The news release states the Missouri Works Training is customizable and flexible driven by the needs of businesses. It provides training assistance to large and small as well as urban and rural companies making significant investments into their Missouri facilities.
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