2002

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tng needs of Morton and CraftCo through East Central Community College," Finley said. CraftCo produces electronic compo– nents for the automotive industry, and its current customer base includes direct sales to Ford, General Motors, Daimler– Chrysler, Jaguar and Saab. "East Central is a tool to assist in improving our training needs, which is probably the biggest hurdle we have in the state at a time when new businesses are coming in a nd needing trained employees," Finley said. "We're very closely tied to East Central in terms of meeting our training needs to be compet– itive," Finley said. But, Finley added, it is important that a high school diploma become a given in today's society and that more technically oriented classes continue to be offered at ECCC. "That's where the real need is <1!) it relates to attracting new busmesses and maintaining existing businesses in t e state," Finley said. "We need to get more involved in the skill levels that are abo\ e the basic high school education \\'e need to be competitive not JUSt in cost but in terms of our skill level as \\eli.- Rodis Shealy, manufactunng engi– neering group leader with Ta~ lor Machine Works Inc. is also the chJ.rr of workforce development for ECCC.- He said ECCC has been and rem...ns mpor– tant to East Cemral Missl'>sippi. "Strictly from our business deal– ings with them at Taylor. the) ·.-e domg anything we need them to do... S said. "They're re:.pon:hng an) ask them to as far a:. " ork:foroe .......... ,~.- ECCC a tool to improve training

"Bast Central is a too - o;o assist in improving our tra~n~nq ceeds , which is probably the b~qges t hur dle we have in the state at a ~~e when new businesses are co~ng ~n and needing trained employees sa~d =~ Fin ley , president a nd CE~ o f CraftCo in Morton. "We ' re very c:o s e _y tied to East Central in terms o f meet~ng our t r aining needs to be co:pe t i tive. "

the Ue,-e as the entity that is most able to respond quic~l> to maintain and enhance the current workforce of East Central Mi ~·ssippi He added that the coJlege "a:. equally important in addressing any transition-type training from existing to new skill sets that might need to be provided. "I believe we can respond more qutckly to those requests than a high school," Whitlock said. He added, "We're dedicated to the provision of quality training for existing employers and as a lure to potential employers in this district." t Jim Finley, president and CEO of CraftCo, the state representative for the ECCC Workforce Council and a board member of the Workforce Investment Act for the state, said ECCC and the learning center at CraftCo are important to the success of the area and to the suc– cess of the state. "Morton has lost a number of industries over the past year including Peavey and International Paper and

through the ECCC 's Workforce Development Center. Academic for– credit course offeri ngs range from liberal arts to engineering. "We're providing a niche here that can be helpfu l in developi ng the work– force," Sutphin said. Roger Whitlock, director of \\Orlc– force development for ECCC, believes

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LAKE MESSENGE ------------- o thers, but we're still ht>lding firm SCOTT COUNTY TIMES

the re and helping to assist in the train- material hard

N C YV I V I~ 1"'\_::n::.,r ~~ ~~~:::..._ ___ ___:.-= MERIDIAN STAR_ _ _ _ ___ CLARION-LEDG E ~------

U ION APPEAL

," INSTON COUNTY JOURNAL_ _ _ _ SPIRIT OF MORTON_ _ ____ _