Trident Workforce Investment Board supports local manufacturing industry

March 15, 2010 - PRLog -- Seventeen students celebrated their success after completing the Trident Workforce Investment Board’s Manufacturing Certification Training Program.  Each received a Manufacturing Readiness Certificate from Trident Technical College (TTC).

Tom Lafrate, TTC instructor for the program, told representatives from Carolina Starches, Daimler, MAU, Stanley, Syn Strand. Welded Tube, and Leatherwood who each interviewed all graduates after the ceremony, “You can be assured that these graduates are work-ready.  You don’t have to waste time pre-training them before they are productive employees.”

Paul L. Connerty, Executive Director of the Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB), recognized the dedication and commitment of the students. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about you.

“The Trident Workforce Investment Board is committed to developing our workforce.  Along with the vision of the Lowcountry Manufacturers Council, we partnered with Trident Technical College and incorporated the needs of our manufacturing industries to train you with the skills you need to be productive employees.  Manufacturing is vital to our economy.  Thank you for taking this opportunity to help our region’s manufacturing sector.”

The Manufacturing Certification Training Program is designed to provide entry level job skills to individuals interested in careers in the manufacturing sector.  The training consists of four weeks of classroom instruction.  The classes are held Monday through Friday at Trident Technical College’s main campus.  Candidates must undergo a background check, have completed high school or their GED, and achieve successful scores in Mathematics, Reading for Information, Locating Information and Observation on the WorkKeys® skills assessment test.  

Ever mindful of the needs of Lowcountry manufacturers, a new 28-hour course on manufacturing assembly skills was added to the program.

Cassandra Jamison, Trident One Stop Career System (TOSCS) Director reminded the graduates that the TOSCS is committed to assisting them in gaining employment and encouraged the employers to consider applying for On the Job Training funds when they hire these graduates as new employees.

The Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) oversees the Trident One Stop Career System (TOSCS), which uses Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds to pay for the manufacturing training.  In addition to acquiring skilled workers through this program, companies can receive a wage reimbursement of up to 75% of the worker’s wage while they continue their training on the job.  

The mission of the Trident Workforce Investment Board (TWIB) is to develop the region’s workforce by providing high quality workforce development programs and services to its customers. To accomplish this mission, it created a market driven and user-friendly workforce system investing workforce funding to recruit, prepare, and train workers with the skills needed to support existing industry and attract new industry to the tri-county region.  

The TWIB provides funding for the Trident One Stop Career System.  The Trident One Stop Career System is a nationally recognized workforce development system staffed by some of the best trained workforce professionals in the nation.   The Trident One Stop Career Center is located at 1930 Hanahan Road in North Charleston.  Satellite Centers are located in Moncks Corner, Summerville and Charleston.  

For more information on available services and programs or to find the center nearest to you, call 843-574-1800 or TTY 711.  An Equal Opportunity Employer Program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities, upon request.