SUMTER - A new economic development program involving businesses and industries in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties will offer paid work experience opportunities for Central Carolina Technical College Industrial and Engineering Technology students. The Work Experience (WE) program was announced Thursday during a press conference on CCTC's main campus.
WE involves a partnership between Central Carolina Technical College, the Santee-Lynches Workforce Investment Board, the Sumter Economic Development Board, and industries in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties, along with students from CCTC specifically working in welding, engineering graphics technology, mechatronics and CNC Machine Tool programs.
WE's paid training program will launch Feb. 2, and it involves 19 students and 17 companies from the four-county region. Students will gain valuable paid work experience over the course of 200 hours that will ultimately make them more competitive in the job market.
"WE provides the potential for an increase per capita income for residents of Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties by providing job placement opportunities," said CCTC President Dr. Tim Hardee. "The region will better retain skilled individuals, encouraging them to search for employment within our four-county area."
The WE program is designed to boost the region's economic development efforts by giving businesses and industries an additional avenue of attracting and targeting local, skilled workers to fill available positions. The program also develops a pipeline of prospective employees for high-technology careers.
Companies participating in the program include Powell Valves, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Meritor Inc., Becton-Dickinson; Canfor Corporation, Caterpillar Inc., Continental Tire the Americas LLC, the Coca-Cola Company, Eaton Corporation, Johnny's Welding Service, Kaydon Corporation, Manchester Fluid Power, Mancor Industries, Mid-State Tooling, Singleton Steel Co. LLC, Smoak Irrigation Co. and Wolfe Mechanical and Equipment Supply.
