College in talks with JSW for training program

STEUBENVILLE -- Eastern Gateway Community College is in talks with JSW Steel to develop a customized training and apprenticeship program that could meet the mill's staffing needs into the foreseeable future.

As big a deal as that would be, it's the kind of thing EGCC will do for any local employer, Karla Martin, executive director of EGCC's work force program, said.

"We want to help employers develop customized training related to the skill sets they need," Martin said. Provided the college has the equipment and space to accommodate the request, "We're willing to do it for any employer."

Ryan Pasco, director of energy and engineering initiatives at Eastern Gateway, said they've been "very successful" in customizing programs for local companies to address their pre- and post-employment needs, as well as developing apprenticeships.

That would be huge with a company like JSW, which already employs about 300 people. Company officials figure to grow that number as high as 1,000.

The upper Ohio Valley has a rich steelmaking heritage, but while its work force is highly skilled it's also aging. Pasco said that's a problem for companies like JSW that want and need to be able to plug new bodies into their operations seamlessly.

"What they're finding is people who have worked those kinds of jobs are retirement age and there's no one to fill their shoes," he said. "That's where EGCC comes in. What we're trying to do here is create customized training for all employers."

As long as the college has the space and equipment, "we're willing to do that for any employer," Pasco said.

"We can't do a faux steel mill," he adds, "but we can teach specific crafts. If an employer needs workers (trained in) electronics, pneumatics or hydraulics, for instance, we can teach those aspects."

He said EGCC is already building a grant-funded machining lab on the Steubenville campus. Martin said they'll work with any employer, industrial or not, and pointed out they already do continuing ed for nurses, funeral directors and others. The college already has a CDL program up and running, as well as phlebotomy and real estate programs.

"One of the things we'd found was people had to drive two- to four-hours or more to get continuing education credits," Martin said. "We want EGCC to be able to (fill) that need. People shouldn't have to go outside their community for their training."

They're also organizing the training so those who can't or don't want to commit to a full degree program can still get industry credentials and get their foot in the door.

"Our goal is to meet the needs of people who need to get into the work force quickly, as well as those with the flexibility to see their degree through to the end," Pasco said. "People can do short-term training with us and get industrial credentials instead of a degree."

Martin said the college is excited about the possibilities.

"We're proud that a lot of our classes are offered in the evening, so people can work and still come to class," Martin said. "We're really, really happy about that. That's one thing, in this area not a lot of classes are offered in the evenings. Eastern Gateway is going to begin to offer not just work force but credit classes in the evening -- so a working mother or any person working a day job can still come to school."

Martin said it's a philosophical shift as much as anything.

"We're looking at the future, proactively instead of reacting," she said. "We know what's coming down the pike, we're being proactive. We want (the narrative) it to be about supporting families so when the jobs come -- and they will come -- we'll be ready. Instead of waiting until they're here and operation, we're already researching to to meet their needs. It's still a few years away, but when they come here, we want to be ready."