•September 23, 2015•

By Mike Brothers

With some 500 production related jobs opening in the next few years the need to train local students is in growing demand.

On Sept. 18 representatives of No Job Left Behind from Coles, Douglas, Shelby and Moultrie counties gathered at Faith Lutheran Church in Sullivan to find out how to best meet that demand.

Dr. Mike Rudibaugh , GIS professor from Lake Land College, analyzed results from the 2015 gap survey sent to 131 employers in the region.

What Rudibaugh learned was the growing need for production employees is in a region that is experiencing a decline in population.

“One thing I think you will find is many communities have an aging population,” Rudibaugh said, citing Shelby County as one with 40% of its population over 50 years of age.

He went on to explain the present commuter trends across county lines indicate the need for training will require regional cooperation in order to attract major government funding.

“Production (manufacturing) still plays an important and vibrant role in our communities,” Rudibaugh continued. “And partnerships between production and education can help communities stabilize population by training workers for jobs that need to be filled here.”

Sullivan schools superintendent Brad Tuttle pointed to the recent success of the welding program in its first year at District 300 high school.

Aimed at preparing students for Agri-Fab and Hydro-Gear jobs in Sullivan the class has more than 12 students in its first year.The school has also enjoyed success with the summer intern programs at these local facilities.

Deacon Patient of Agri-Fab said he would like to utilize more internships if some funding sources could be located to grow that program.

Joe Sheiner of Hydro-Gear noted they opened the tour to include more than the manufacturing side of the business. Hydro-Gear utilized the summer intern program to help fill a receptionist vacancy this year.

Tuttle noted an adult education welding program is being planned with hopes of vocational funding to assist.
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