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Finding and training can be a difficult hurdle for many companies, especially new or expanding companies, to overcome. On the opposite side of the spectrum, students and new graduates can have a difficult time finding a career in their field of choice. Thankfully West Virginia offers a number of grants designed to both help companies find and train new employees and to allow students to gain experience in their chosen field. Perhaps the most significant of these grants are the Apprenticeship in Motion (AIM) Program, The Learn and Earn Program, and the Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program (GGWFP). All of these programs allow companies to work directly with students training in their respective field which allows the students to gain experience and knowledge of the ins and outs of their chosen career from firsthand experience and in return companies gain hardworking and well-educated new employees.

The first of these programs, the Apprenticeship in Motion Program or AIM Program was created to promote and expand apprenticeships in West Virginia. Apprenticeships combine classroom and on-the-job training, and the AIM Program was designed to both increase the number of apprenticeship programs in West Virginia but also to improve existing registered apprentice programs. Apprenticeships offers students direct, on-job-training experts in the industry of their choosing, career advancement potential, increased wages, and more while employers receive reduced costs for recruitment, turnover, and workers’ compensation, an increase in productivity, and a direct pipeline to skilled workers.

The Learn and Earn Program is another program designed to get employers and students working directly together. The Learn and Earn Program was created as a way for employers to connect with the talented new workers coming from local community and technical colleges. Students are placed with local businesses in positions that directly align with a student’s chosen degree field as a result of this program, giving them much needed real-world experience. The program also offers employers 50% wage reimbursement for any students who are employed under them and earning at least 10 dollars an hour. The Learn and Earn Program is a fantastic way for students to establish a name for themselves in their given field while also incentivizing employers to hire skilled local workers.

The final major grant program is the Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program or GGWFP. This program offers employers training awards designed to help create at least 10 new jobs per year. The GGWFP is designed to directly enhance workplace performance while providing helpful solutions to common human resources problems. Like the previously mentioned grants, the GGWFP also allows employers to work directly with community and technical colleges, giving the employers any needed labor while allowing students to deepen their knowledge of their degree field through real world experience.

Though they are countless grants out there designed to help both employers and students alike, in the state of West Virginia, you’d be hard pressed to find any that top the Apprenticeship in Motion Program, the Learn and Earn Program or the Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program.

Giving students and employers the chance to work with each other can be very advantageous for both parties. Students get the chance to learn tricks of their trade firsthand in a real-world setting, while employers get to receive help from educated and skilled young workers. That’s why the Learn and Earn Program strives to offer West Virginia students and employers the chance to work with each other and allows both parties to reap all the benefits that come from working together. The Learn and Earn Program was created as a way for employers to connect with the talented new workers coming from local community and technical colleges. In this program, students are placed with local businesses in positions that align with a student’s chosen degree field, giving them much needed real-world experience. In return, the program also offers employers 50% wage reimbursement for any students who are employed under them and earning at least 10 dollars an hour. The Learn and Earn Program has proven to be a fantastic way for students to make a name for themselves in their given field while also encouraging employers to hire skilled local talent.

The Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program or GGWFP plays a huge role in encouraging the growth and expansion of West Virginia businesses while also helping to attract new businesses to the state. The GGWFP was designed to allow employers to work directly with community and technical colleges, giving the employers any needed labor while allowing students to deepen their knowledge of their degree field through real world experience. The program is also designed to directly enhance workplace performance while providing helpful solutions to common human resources problems. It also offers employers a variety of that training awards designed to help create at least 10 new jobs per year. The Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program is an immensely helpful grant program for students and employers alike which is why it continues to be one of the most popular options in West Virginia.

Apprenticeships can prove to be truly rewarding experiences for both students and employers alike. Apprenticeships combine classroom and on-the-job training allowing students to learn important skills and information from firsthand experience while giving employers access to well-educated and eager workers. That’s why the Apprenticeship in Motion Program or AIM Program was created. The goal of the Apprenticeship in Motion Program is to promote and expand apprenticeships in West Virginia by increasing the number of apprenticeships in the state and improving already registered apprenticeships. The AIM program also helps to connect employers to resources for developing a quality workforce and assists them with obtaining training money and methods to recruit and retain employees. Apprenticeships offer a plethora of benefits for both students and employers taking part in the apprenticeship as well. Some of the benefits experienced by students taking part in internships include offering students direct, on-job-training experts in the industry of their choosing, career advancement potential, increased wages, and more. Employers also gain a number of benefits including receiving reduced costs for recruitment, turnover, and workers’ compensation, an increase in productivity, and a direct pipeline to skilled workers. Apprenticeships offer some truly rewarding opportunities for students and employers which is why the Apprenticeship in Motion Program is always ready to improve the apprenticeship experience in West Virginia.

Hear what Amy Klingelsmith, an employee at Chem-Pak Inc., has to say about the changes she has seen in Berkeley County over the recent years and what makes Berkeley County home for her.

Chem-Pak, Inc. is a family-owned business operating in Berkeley County, West Virginia. George Pete Duane Jr. started the company in Virginia in 1966. Duane was inspired by market needs at the time and would often create his own proprietary products based on what the community needed. One of the first products he developed, Finger Ease, was used to help his friends who were musicians. Since then, his son, Randy Duane, and grandson, Mike Duane, have continued to grow and strengthen the business. The company has now morphed into a thriving chemical manufacturing company that specializes in aerosol and liquid packaging.
After a fire in 1999, Chem-Pak moved their manufacturing site from Virginia to Berkeley County, West Virginia and began construction on a new manufacturing facility. Currently, they are housed in a state of-the-art, 40,000 square foot facility that has been the springboard for their success. Chem-Pak chose Berkeley County to settle in because of its support, pro-business mindset, and strong employee pool. Since moving to Berkeley County, the company has grown significantly. “We have grown the company seven-fold since we moved to Berkeley County,” says Randy Duane. Because of this progress, Chem-Pak’s leaders are adding a new aerosol line that will add a 12 million can capacity per shift, and they will be expanding the facility by an additional 20,000 square feet.

This history of company growth has allowed Chem-Pak to upgrade their space and increase profits, but also, it has given them the capacity to hire new employees, and promote existing employees into new areas of the business. When Chem-Pak relocated to Berkeley County, it had 25 fulltime employees. Since then, that number has more than doubled, and the employee count is expected to trend upward in the coming years as new business is added. “Currently, Chem-Pak has approximately 60 full-time employees. Over the next two to three years, we expect that footprint to expand significantly up to between 80 and 90 full-time employees,” Mike Duane states. Because of Berkeley County Development Authority’s (BCDA) partnerships with local education providers, Chem-Pak has been able to hire local, skilled workers. They are also able to take advantage of programs recommended by BCDA through Blue Ridge Community & Technical College, conveniently located right across the street, to help with continuing education and on-the-job certifications. “We have members who will be taking one of the lab programs over at Blue Ridge,” says Mike Duane. Most recently, Chem-Pak has partnered with West Virginia University’s Industrial Extension and plans to use the Apprenticeship in Motion Program to help their employees gain new skills. Randy Duane is enthusiastic about these partnerships, “We’ve been able to take advantage of different programs and incentives that the Development Authority let us know about. The Development Authority has always worked well with Chem-Pak and assisted us in any capacity they could. It has been a great partnership and we’re looking forward to a bright future.”

Although training is essential for their success, the most important aspect of their business is the atmosphere they create for their employees and clients. “Being a family business is very important to our employee group. We have a very collaborative, team-oriented, family-oriented business culture that’s very important to me. It was important to my father. It’s important to Mike,” Randy Duane states. What truly sets Chem-Pak apart from other larger manufacturers is their passion for maintaining this environment. Their primary focus is not just on hiring employees but retaining them. “We’ve tried to be very creative, where we make sure we focus on developing the wonderful employees that we have here at Chem-Pak,” says Mike Duane. They try their best to promote from within so that their employees receive the benefit of upward mobility within the company, bringing with them experience and knowledge of day-to-day operations.

They attribute a large part of their success to their family-style culture. “We’re very driven. We’re very focused. We’re a very results and performance-driven company. But, we also have a softer side where we care about our employees. We’re thoughtful about our employees and we’re thoughtful when it comes to our policies,” stresses Randy Duane. During the pandemic, they worked with their employees, allowing remote work where possible, and even offering a full two weeks COVID-19 paid leave. “As a family company, we understand the needs of our employees,” says Mike Duane. They also recognize the community members and local partnerships when discussing their success, and plans for the future.