For Immediate Release
Date: October 26, 2018
Contact: Melinda McGregor - 641-422-1524 ext. 44510
Email: melinda.mcgregor@iwd.iowa.gov
ST. ANSGAR, IOWA – Grain Millers in St. Ansgar and the IowaWORKS Center in Mason City, together with the U.S. Department of Labor/Office of Apprenticeship, launched a Millwright Registered Apprenticeship Program.
A Registered Apprenticeship is employer-driven training combined with on-the-job learning and related classroom instruction. The program allows the Registered Apprentice to earn a paycheck from day one while learning. The Millwright Registered Apprenticeship is a four-year program with the classroom training provided through North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC).
Melissa Edgington, Human Resource Manager, for Grain Millers, said the company decided to offer a Registered Apprenticeship Program because they continue to need skilled labor in our manufacturing environment. They had been exploring apprenticeship opportunities for about two years and decided to move forward after attending a meeting in April with a group of Mitchell County employers, the IowaWORKS Center in Mason City and NIACC.
“This program will assist us in bridging the gap between skilled labor and open positions,” Edgington said. “We are excited to be part of the Registered Apprenticeship Program and look forward to working with NIACC to assist in our classroom training. We believe this will benefit our business and our community by providing additional skilled labor to north Iowa.”
Growing Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in Advanced Manufacturing is one of the goals of a grant received by Iowa Workforce Development from the U.S. Department of Labor. A millwright installs, dismantles, repairs, reassembles and moves machinery in a production facility.
Grain Millers is currently seeking candidates for its millwright Registered Apprentice. Interested job seekers should contact Melinda McGregor at IowaWORKS in Mason City to learn more about this fantastic career opportunity at 641-4322-1254, ext. 44510 or by filling out an interest form at www.earnandlearniowa.gov/interest.
The Mitchell County Economic Development Commission (MCEDC) applauds Grain Millers for being a leader in offering a Registered Apprenticeship Program in the area.
“We see this as a big positive for economic development. Not only is the business addressing a current need in a high-demand field, but they are opening up opportunities for local youth that will help us retain talent in the region,” said Jessica Marzen with MCEDC. “Registered Apprenticeship Programs provide the formula for businesses to develop their own skilled workforce. In this tight labor market, that’s a win for the business and for economic development efforts in the community.”
Grain Millers is a leading international agri-business with diversified interests in whole grain manufacturing and merchandising, organic and conventional consumer food products, and the import and export of commodities. The St. Ansgar facility is the largest, cleanest, most technologically advanced oat mill in North America.
Registered Apprenticeship Programs help recruit, develop a skilled workforce and retain talent. There are currently more than 1,000 apprenticeable occupations in industries that include energy, information technology, healthcare, financial services, transportation, advanced manufacturing, food and beverage preparation, and the building trades.
Businesses interested in learning more about Registered Apprenticeship opportunities can visit the earnandlearniowa.gov website and complete a form to receive more information.
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