Bennington, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott and the Agency of Commerce and Community Development today announced that four Bennington County businesses have been awarded a total of $631,182 in Vermont Training Program Grants from the Department of Economic Development this fiscal year to train more than 675 employees. The grants provide training that leads to improved skill sets and wage increases for upwards of 615 existing employees, and support training for up to 60 new hires.
“Providing the necessary training for Vermont’s workers is an important part of our work to create more opportunities for all Vermonters,” said Governor Scott. “These grants will help employees advance, while ensuring a strong, qualified workforce for these Southern Vermont businesses.”
Companies receiving the grants are:
Energizer Battery: One of the world's largest manufacturers of batteries, Energizer's Bennington plant produces miniature batteries used in a variety of modern products, including advanced medical equipment.
Mack Molding: Mack Molding is a leading supplier of contract manufacturing services and injection molded plastic parts to companies in a range of industries, with three production facilities in Vermont and its headquarters in Arlington, Vt.
NSK Steering Systems: NSK is a global manufacturer of bearings, motion technology, and automotive components, and its Bennington facility manufactures steering columns for the global automotive industry.
Southwestern Vermont Health Care: SVMC is a comprehensive health care system, headquartered in Bennington, Vt., servicing Bennington and Windham Counties in Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties in New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts.
"Businesses in Southern Vermont consistently cite workforce development as one of their most capital-intensive expenditures," said Bill Colvin, Director of the Bennington County Industrial Corporation. "The Vermont Training Program supports these vital investments in our region's workforce and enables our businesses to make transformative improvements to their operations and capacity. We applaud these keystone employers for their commitment to their employees, and we thank the Governor and the General Assembly for their continued support of the Vermont Training Program."
The Vermont Training Program provides performance-based workforce grants for training new hires and incumbent workers for new or existing businesses who meet the program requirements. Training can either be on-site or through a training provider/vendor. Grants may cover up to 50 percent of the training cost. For more information please visit http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/funding-incentives/vtp.