WorkForce helps Evadale plant with employee technical training

Newsboy photo/ Sharon Kerr $135, 525.40 - The amount WorkForce Solutions is bringing to Jasper County workers for training at MeadWestvaco, the second largest incumbent worker grant written in the state. From left: Arlie Reynolds and Kim Brown of WFS, board member Kathleen Hawkins, Jennifer Gobert of WFS, Jim Gresham, vice president of the Evadale Operations of MeadWestvaco, Michelle Havrill, training specialist of MeadWestvaco, and board member Brent Meaux.

Mead Westvaco is usually on the other end of the check when it comes to grants to improve the community, but last week Workforce Solutions of Jasper presented the company with a check for $135,525.40

Jennifer Gobert said it is one of the largest grants written under the incumbent worker training program in Texas.

The business services team of Gobert, Arlie Reynolds and Kim Brown have helped 24 employers, 254 employees, with a total of more than a quarter million dollars in training grants for Jasper, Newton and Sabine Counties.

Any company with three or more employees can apply for a reimbursement grant for training that provides current employees with new or enhanced skills, improved job performance, job retention and/or opportunities for promotion and increased wages.

Various employers in the area have already used such grants to send employees to technical training and to conferences that improved social services skills.

The Mead Westvaco grant will allow the Evadale mill to train about 50 of its electrical and instrument employees on the new Delta V control system and RSLogix 5000 training.

"The specialized training MWV's employees receive will improve skill and performance levels, enhance personal and professional growth opportunities, and increase mill productivity and reliability," according to MWV spokesperson Penny Sullivan.

Mead WestVaco is the county's largest employer, with a staff of almost 1,000. They produce bleached paperboard for high quality printing, such as all the Starbucks papergoods worldwide.

MWV supports many community efforts, including the Rainbow Room that supplies children in Child Protective Services with necessities. Last year MWV repaired the elevator at The Jasper Clinic, which serves as headquarters for the Jasper and Newton County Public Health Districts and is located in an old hospital building dating to 1927.

"When we heard that clients who are physically unable to walk the stairs could not access services on the second floor, we decided we needed to help," said Sullivan.

Employers who qualify for WorkForce Solutions incumbent worker grants can be reimbursed for training including tuition, fees, instructor costs and the cost of training supplies, book, curriculum materials and travel costs.

For more information, contact the business services team at 384-9031.