A group of Japanese industrialists will be making their second visit to the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton and Northeast State Technical Community College on Friday (Jan. 26) to discuss training opportunities.
P.C. Snapp, executive director of the Johnson City, Jonesboro and Washington County Economic Development Board, told EDB members at their monthly board meeting on Thursday that the Japanese "were very impressed with training facilities in the area and the quality of training they provided. They were also impressed with the ETSU College of Business programs."
EDB is assisting Koyo USA and Nakatetsu staff new plants locating in the Washington County Industrial Park. Koyo is currently interviewing potential candidates for plant operator and human resources manager, Snapp said.
Chattanooga is still in the running for possible location of a new Toyota plant, state officials recently announced. If the plant is located in Chattanooga, it will have a positive impact on Northeast Tennessee, Snapp said.
On plant closings, Snapp suggested the State Department of Economic and Community Development should do more on employee retention. "There are no state or federal programs that address employee retention. The decision to cut back, move or close a facility is made at the corporate level," Snapp said.
Jerry Patton, director of the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, the seventh largest of 27 technology centers in the state, was guest speaker at Thursday's meeting.
According to Patton, Tennessee Technology Centers offer unique training opportunities. "Students may begin training programs anytime during the year. They graduate when they learn the necessary skill sets to be employed. The job is not done until our graduates are employed in their major field of study," Patton said.
Health careers are leading job growth in Northeast Tennessee, Patton said.
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