Training Fund Award Helps Train Over 175 Workers in Presque Isle County
Carmeuse Lime & Stone has been in business for over 150 years and their calcite quarry has been in business for over 105 years. Locally in northern Michigan, Carmeuse employs 109 employees. Carmeuse aims to support and utilize local resources, and most importantly, to make sure that they are still here, providing excellent employment opportunities to people within the area with the same values and commitments that they have today, 100 years from now. To stay competitive, Carmeuse works with Michigan Works! to help them secure STTF awards.
In 2016, Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium helped Carmeuse secure STTF funds totaling $68,131, which helped Carmeuse to train over 175 existing employees and hire seven new employees. For 2017, Michigan Works! hopes to secure additional STTF awards totaling $28,489 for Carmeuse to train staff further and add more employment opportunities. The STTF training helped the employees work with confidence thanks to their new skills and certifications.
“One of our many success stories from working with Michigan Works! comes from our ability to utilize the funding we’ve received from the STTF grant to train our employees. We have recently been upgrading our facilities and processes within the operation to more automated systems. With these technical advancements and changes however, our employees are in need of continuous education and training in order for them to not only comprehend and run, but also maintain these new electronic and automated systems,” says Carmeuse HR Generalist, Erika Comerford. She continues, “This training, although critical, can be quite costly at times. Thanks to funding from the STTF grant, we have been able to provide this training for a large number of our employees, which is a big reason as to why we’ve been so successful in our implementation and transition.”
Carmeuse employee, Elmer Schleben, also praises the STTF opportunity, stating, “The welding course that I was able to attend [as part of the training covered under the STTF grant] was really, really good. The instructor was unbelievable; very knowledgeable and good at what he does. Did I weld before? Yeah, but it had been a long time. I was able to go through class and have my stuff tested and get a comprehension and understanding of exactly what I’m doing. What I’ve learned through that class helps me every day. Now when I work on projects, I have confidence in knowing that I’m doing it right. I walked out of there with 6 or 7 certificates! They let me run with it, and get the most out of it that I could. It was an unbelievable course!”
In addition to the STTF program, Carmeuse works with Michigan Works! on Talent Tours, Student Career Expos, recruitment services, and is currently looking into a registered Apprenticeship. Michigan Works! willingness to work with Carmeuse and provide a wide variety of services and resources has made them a key partner in Carmeuse’s success locally.