Here to Serve Your Business:
The Martinsville - Henry County Chamber of Commerce is proud to be making sure businesses and industry in the area are aware of all of the workforce development options available to them. This dedicated service was launched in 2010 and has been helping our local businesses and industry to grow, as well as, train and retain its employees. Partnering with the Workforce Investment Board the Business Services Manager position was created to identify employer needs and streamline the process of connecting the employers with the appropriate resource or partner. Robbie Knight, Business Services Manager, says "The needs of employers vary by industry sector and size ranging from assistance with recruiting and staffing, providing labor market information, new business start-ups, layoffs and plant closings, training needs and professional development".
Services provided by our Business Services Manager include but are not limited to; provision of labor market information as needed, coordination, promotion and hosting of job fairs and recruitment events to aid in meeting employment and staffing needs of regional employers, alignment of employers and job seekers with resources, training opportunities and funding through Incumbent Worker Training, Transitional Worker and On the Job Training provided by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act and the Pathways to the American Dream Act. Assistance with layoff aversion and rapid response services due to business closures is also provided.
We are also proud to say that in 2017 we were able to achieve great success in the implementation and utilization of multiple federally funded Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA)programs. The Incumbent Worker Training Program is one of these programs. This particular program is utilized to help offset the cost of providing professional development, training on new equipment or processes, and credentialing of an employer's existing workforce. This investment in professional development helps move employees along their career path, in turn, creating new entry-level positions. According to Robbie Knight, area employers have collectively recouped in excess of $160,000 in training costs.
Another WIOA program utilized with great success in 2017 is the On the Job Training (OJT) Program. The purpose of the program is to provide employment, training, and necessary supportive services to job seekers that may lack sufficient skills or face a barrier to successful employment. Employers who choose to hire participants in this program are reimbursed fifty percent of the participant's salary for a predetermined training period; typically between two and six months. This helps to offset the cost of training or losses in production due to additional training provided. Area employers have been able to recoup more than $30,000 collectively through this program.
We have also placed a strong emphasis on addressing and overcoming barriers to employment such as, transportation. The WPWIB, utilizing Business Services providers, entered into a partnership with Ridesolutions to combat regional transportation issues. We also began to promote employer focused programs such as Incumbent Worker and On the Job Training.
Listed below are some of the regional businesses that have participated in and had success with Workforce Programs. We thank you for your participation.
On the Job Training:
Drake Extrusion
Joe Cheap
Young Williams
ATM Motors
VA Glass Products Corp.
Tools 2 Go Llc,
JP Superior Solutions
Incumbent Worker Training (Professional Development):
Virginia Mirror Company Inc.
Virginia Glass Products Corp.
Monogram Food Solutions Llc.
Nilit Amercia Inc.
Bassett Furniture
Dippers Llc
Eastman Chemical
EMI Imaging
Hanesbrands
King's Grant
Pine Products Inc.
Southside Survivor Response Center
Starsprings inc.
Asymmetrical Automotive LLC dba A2 Speed
Hugo's Restaurant & Sports Bar
Rising Sun Breads
Sweet Cakes Bakery-Cafe
Daily Grind
JP Superior Solutions
Funding is provided by the West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board. The Board and sub-recipients are equal opportunity employers/programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Primary source of funding is from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration.
