Job seekers have an excellent opportunity to position themselves for quality employment with a group of local employers via a training program at Salina Area Technical College. The training program, created with manufacturers in mind, promises participants a job interview upon successful completion.

The Manufacturing Skills Certificate program was collaboratively developed by manufacturers with a goal of preparing job seekers wanting a manufacturing career with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge. The program is an eight credit hour certificate and includes training in Blueprint Reading, Precision Measurement & Quality Control, Applied Shop Mathematics I, Occupational Safety & Health, and Employability Skills.
Officials announced that grant funding makes attending the training program free. The Kansas State Department of Commerce and the local KansasWorks office are working with Salina Area Technical College to offer full scholarships for the Manufacturing Skills Certificate program.

“The Manufacturing Skills Certificate program will be a positive impact for not only job seekers looking to stand out in the hiring process but also give employers an excellent avenue to bolster their workforce in 2012.” noted Dan Mendicina, 2012 Chair of the Board for the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

“There is a positive trend that is beginning to develop. Saline County unemployment numbers have consistently declined in 2011 from nearly 7% to 5.7%. The number of employed people is increasing, the workforce is getting larger and the chamber is proactively looking at different resources for short and long term employer workforce needs in Saline County.” Lauver said.

Those who successfully complete the Manufacturing Skill Certificate program are guaranteed a job interview with at least one of the following Salina area manufacturers: Exide, Exline, Grain Belt Supply, Great Plains Manufacturing, K-Tron, Philips, PKM Steel and Salina Vortex