Three Monroe businesses receive $131,540 for employee training

Three Monroe businesses, TWB Company LLC, Trailer Connection LLC, and Advanced Heat Treat Corporation, were recently awarded funding from Michigan's Going PRO Talent Fund according to a recent release. With these funds, they'll be able to train new employees and help current ones with their growth and development.

TWB, which received $72,390 to train 42 workers, will be putting its money into tech training, teaching their employees to operate robots used in the workplace.

"Being able to provide those trainings for our team members is huge," said senior HR generalist Ashleigh Glass-Cooper. "And so it helps us to continue to be competitive, continue to be innovative, and really, you know, do great things as an organization and learn great skills as individuals in that organization."

Trailer Connection, which received $46,690 to train 25 workers, is putting the money towards a mentoring program and getting their mechanics state certification.

The goal of the mentorship program, which according to marketing director Heather Vavrina will likely begin in January, will be to pair new younger employees with experienced mechanics to get on-the-job training.

"It kind of gives the older guys a sense of pride and the younger guys seem pretty energetic," said Bill Vavrina, Trailer Connection's owner.

The state certifications they're training for will be in multiple disciplines, such as forklift operation safety and advanced diagnostic tools.

Advanced Heating Treat, which received $12,460 for seven workers, will focus on developing supervisors and technicians. Whether they require soft or technical skills, the focus will be on individual growth and development, according to plant manager Chad Clark.

"(We want) the sense of pride and ownership they get from taking the classes and showing we're investing in them," he said.

Michigan Senator Joseph Bellino celebrated the announcement saying, "When we invest in our workforce, we invest in our future."

"I have long supported these wise investments to support Michigan businesses and help workers advance their skills," he added. "Investing in our local people now leads directly to future statewide economic prosperity.”

— Connor Venstra can be reached at Cveenstra@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Three Monroe businesses receive $131,540 for employee training