The Jefferson County Manufacturing Council (JCMC) began meeting in May 2007.  The primary purpose of the Council is to provide a forum to discuss common problems and issues among the manufacturing organizations within Jefferson County.  The membership consists of Senior Executives of these manufacturing organizations with 10 or more employees.


The goal of the Council is to have a positive impact with manufacturing organizations in ways such as: supporting school vo-tech training programs and certifications, and helping companies obtain an educational grant for training of manufacturing employees. The membership may discover that many industries share some of the same problem and concerns. 


There is strength in numbers.  In order for industry to grow and be successful, they must join together to foster and support much-needed improvements in Jefferson County.


A current focus of the Council is supporting workforce development.  We realize for our industries to grow and for our community to attract new industry to this area, we must develop a qualified workforce. 


The first order of business for the Council, working with The Economic Development Alliance of Jefferson County was to produce a DVD “Building a Career in Manufacturing: Some Assembly Required,” to be used in presentations to junior and senior high school students.  The DVD promotes many different manufacturing jobs available in Jefferson County.  It also addresses wages, benefits, and promotional opportunities that a person can receive building a career in manufacturing.  We hope to encourage area students to consider careers in manufacturing and to prepare by taking more math and science classes in high school.  This could be followed by enrolling and completing a technical certificate or Associates Degree program at SEARK and/or an Industrial Technology or Engineering Bachelors Degree program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.



Realizing that financial need is often needed to help develop a qualified workforce, we are excited to announce the Southeast Arkansans College Manufacturing Scholarship Program sponsored through the Jefferson County Manufacturing Council.  Member companies of the Council are sponsoring scholarships for selected manufacturing classes each semester.  For more information on these scholarships, please contact SEARK College Financial Aid Office (870)543-5909.


2009 Officers of the Jefferson County Manufacturing Council:

Chris Hart, President
Mgr. Human Resources/Industrial Eng.
Central Moloney, Inc.


Paul Kline, Vice President
Sales
Strong Manufacturing


Lanita Plunkett, Secretary/Treasurer
Human Resource Manager
Stant Manufacturing