The Greater Warren County Economic Development Council (GWCEDC) recently hosted a roundtable discussion with some of the region’s largest industrial employers.The discussion, which included representatives from more than a dozen area businesses, focused on opportunities and impediments to their growth in Warren County.“The GWCEDC has been very successful with attracting new employers to our region, like CertainTeed and EPC, Inc., but we also consider supporting our existing employers an essential part of our mission,” said Dr. David Buck, co-chair of the GWCEDC Workforce Development Committee. “We have successfully supported companies like SAF Holland, Ameriwood, and Cascades Plastics to win expansion projects for Warren County but events like the roundtable allow us to be even more proactive in helping our businesses succeed.”Much of the feedback offered by participating employers focused on workforce needs. Participants spoke of a high demand for technical skills including welding, industrial maintenance workers, industrial electricians, PLC and machining skills, engineering, management, and CDL licensed drivers. Many also referenced the need to better equip the local labor with skills such as problem solving, being able to read blueprints, performing basic math functions, basic computer operations, applying for a job, and understanding their responsibilities once they have secured a job.“It is essential that we develop a talented labor pool to respond to the growing demand of our local businesses,” said Dr. Jim Chandler, co-chair of the EDC Workforce Development Committee. “The GWCEDC will continue to push for solutions like the local welding training programs launched in 2015 and we recognize this effort will require us to develop and coordinate training programs across all age spectrums and educational institutions.”External influences that were noted by participants as obstacles to additional job creation and employment in the region include the inability of applications to pass sobriety or drug tests, increasing regulations, the rising cost of health insurance, and the commuting distances and costs of their existing employees.The findings of the roundtable event were reported to the GWCEDC Board of Directors during their February meeting. The organization intends to continue working with local businesses to develop proactive solutions and has already begun reaching out to area training providers to develop training programs tailored to respond to workforce needs identified.The GWCEDC is a public-private economic development organization focused on economic development in the greater Warren County area.Employer Needs