Some Mid-Missouri companies are among those receiving funds from the state for customized job training assistance.
Gov. Mike Parson announced Wednesday an award of more than $7.8 million from the Department of Economic Development's Missouri One Start program to 226 projects across Missouri "to train or upskill their employees according to specific workforce needs," according to a news release from Parson's office.
No information was immediately available on how much each company will receive, but a list of companies (ded.mo.gov/content/customized-training-awardees) provided, and the list of award recipients includes: Adient, LLC in Eldon; Quaker Window Products in Freeburg; AZZ in Fulton; Pro Food Systems Inc. in Holts Summit; and ABB Inc., DeLong's Inc., Modine Manufacturing and Scholastic Book Clubs Inc. in Jefferson City.
"Flexibility within the program allows companies to choose how the training is provided," according to the news release.
The Missouri One Start program is one of the workforce development initiatives included in Senate Bill 68, which Parson signed into law in July.
The bill renamed the Missouri Works Training Program to Missouri One Start, limited administrative expenses for the program from 15 percent of total training costs to "a reasonable amount determined by the Department of Economic Development," and allowed the department to contract with businesses to implement training projects, among other measures.
"Missouri One Start is a comprehensive workforce program that ensures businesses have the right workforce, with the right skill set, at the right time," Missouri One Start Director Kristie Davis said in the news release.
"Finding workers is the number one challenge facing businesses and economic developers today," Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said in the news release.
"Efforts like Missouri One Start are going to unlock Missouri's economic potential and set us apart from other states vying to attract new businesses or looking to lure our employers away from Missouri," Dixon added.
"Helping employers train new and existing workers helps them stay competitive, and that means growth for the business and for our state's economy," Parson said.