Commentary: Program helps local employers, employees

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By Arundi Venkayya Cox, Business Editor 8:21 PM Saturday, February 13, 2010

John Griffith went to a seminar at Sinclair Community College several months ago to learn about Project HIRE (Hometown Investment in Regional Economies) and walked away with a way to hire four new employees.

Griffith, the engineering, quality and human resources manager at Jena Tool, said his company secured some extra work to build tools for automotive parts. The additional orders meant the company needed to increase its work force.

West Carrollton-based Jena Tool, owned by Wren Industries in Tipp City, builds progressive dies, gauges, fixtures and special machines. The company does precision machining and has 64 employees.

Project HIRE was an ideal match for Jena Tool. Project HIRE is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is designed to help connect employers with dislocated workers.

Locally, 17 people have jobs because of Project HIRE, said Ann Stevens, public information coordinator with the Montgomery County Department of Job and Family Services. Ohio has allocated $7 million to Project HIRE for businesses to employ eligible job seekers, according to the department.

How does it work?

Griffith said he filled out forms and agreements through Job and Family Services and created training plans for the four workers. The workers were displaced from General Motors Corp., he said. They had been die makers in the past but hadn’t worked in the trade for the past several years.

In about a week, Jena Tool’s plans were approved, he said.

The program pays for half of the employees’ wages up to $6,000, Griffith said. There is a requirement that wages be more than $12 per hour, he added.

There is no cost for businesses to participate, Stevens said. Employees hired through the program must stay with the business for at least six months after they finish training.

Businesses interested in finding out more information should call the Project HIRE employer hot line at (937) 225-6444.

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