Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Business Trains Youth

By JOHN MILLER

A non-profit business exists in Clark County helping train young people for jobs.

The Metal Working Connection works all over Arkansas, according to executive director Karen Brashears, training junior and senior high school students for possible careers.

She told members of the Clark County Industrial Council, at its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Sept. 25, the Metal Working Connection works with several companies in the county and began in 1989.

When it first started, she said, there were many naysayers who didn't believe the concept would work.

The concept, Brashears said, is to train these juniors and seniors on how companies work on the job. The students get paid for the work they do, with several doing quite well financially.

In fact, she said, metalworking is the seventh highest paying occupation in the nation at this time.

But, the Connection does more than train students in metalworking. There are several areas they can receive training, including office work.

Brashears said the Connection would gladly help establish training in different business areas, if businesses are willing to help and hire the students.

The Connection, she said, has been approached to have training for adults with their existing employees, but hasn't at this time.

Currently, she said, the Connection works with 87 high schools in the state of Arkansas. Because of the lack of staff, the company had a video made showing what it offers. This videotape is sent to schools so students can see if this is something they are interested in.

The Metal Working Connection is a non-profit company set up within the guidelines of workers' compensation and the child labor laws. It is also a certified program.

Brashears said students completing the program are also certified in the area of their training. She said they have been approached to add industrial maintenance to the program, but as there is no national standard, this will be difficult.

In other business, the CCIC heard about progress being made for the access road to the satellite industrial park along Interstate 30.

Project engineer Charles Summerford said the city awarded a contract and opened bids. However, the bids exceeded the project cost.

Because of this, the county has agreed to help out and do clearing and grubbing work on the right of ways as in-kind labor.

The contractor will have 180 days to complete the project once it's begun. Summerford said the target date for completion is March 30, 1998 -- weather permitting.

The CCIC will also host an industry appreciation golf tournament on Oct. 27 at the Arkadelphia Country Club.

This tourney is being sponsored by area utility companies, including Entergy, Southwestern Bell Telephone, Arkla and the South Central Electric Cooperative.

So far, 36 holes have individual sponsors with plenty of prizes being donated.

Winners of the top three flights will receive golf shirts. These shirts will also be used as door prizes.

The tourney will be open to all industries in Clark County.