Domtar Contribution Supports Marlboro Industry Training Center

The Marlboro County Industry Training Center is one step closer to reality, thanks to a generous contribution by Domtar Corporation.  The company's gift kicked off a fund-raising campaign for the center, which will be located at the former Bennettsville Elementary School.

The Industry Training Center is being developed by Northeastern Technical College in partnership with the Marlboro County School District, the North Eastern Strategic Alliance, industry partners, and the Marlboro Economic Development Partnership.  Modeled after a similar facility in Kingsport, Tenn., the center will partner with area industries to train workers for industrial and manufacturing jobs.  Fundraising is currently underway for phase I of the project, which will involve the renovation of five classrooms in the former school building on Lake Paul Wallace, in Bennettsville.  When fully operational, the center will include five fully functioning training classrooms and a number of labs to support specialized training needed by individual industries for their workers.  In addition, the center will be able to support programs that may offer options for high school students while they are currently completing their high school programs.

"Domtar's Marlboro Mill is excited to support and partner with NETC, Marlboro County School District, NESA, and local industries on the new, state-of-the-art Industry Training Center," said Bill Edwards, manager of the Marlboro Mill.   "Given the economic and unemployment challenges that our county, state, and country are facing, along with the manufacturing labor skills bubble that I see coming in the future, it couldn't come at a better time.  The new facility will ultimately help to improve and support the quality of life in the county through better education and skills leading to better job opportunities.  It will also be a strong selling point to attract new industry to our area.

"Domtar's Marlboro Mill Team would like to recognize and say thanks to those who had the vision and leadership to make this facility possible and to all the organizations which have supported the effort up to this point.  This endeavor clearly shows what can be accomplished when we work together toward the common goal of improving life for all of the citizens in our community.  The work is just beginning, so I challenge all of us to stay engaged and supportive to see this project through.   We at Domtar are eager to see the Industry Training Center come to Marlboro County and where it will lead our county in the future," Edwards remarked.

NETC President Dr. Ron Bartley expressed appreciation for Domtar's support:  "This is an exciting time for Marlboro County.  The partnership between NETC and industry brings new opportunities for training existing industry workers as well as new workers needed by the industries.  Marlboro County and its citizens will gain by training the labor pool for high skill, high wage, and high demand jobs in the county."

Ron King, executive director of the Marlboro County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP), emphasized the economic development impact of the Industry Training Center: "The American South has always and will always rely on middle-skill workers. They are the machinists who will use new computer numerically controlled technologies to create new products for export. They are the chemical technicians who will help develop the medications that keep our families healthy and the skilled production workers who make those drugs a reality. Middle-skill jobs pervade almost every industry in this country, from licensed practical nurses and radiological technicians, to claims adjusters and paralegals, to auto repair diagnosticians. Many middle-skill jobs are local, hands-on jobs, meaning that they are unlikely to be outsourced to other countries.

"Ron Bartley, NETC, local industry and The Workforce Improvement Committee of the Marlboro County Economic Development Partnership (MCEDP) have over the course of a couple years evaluated, planned and now are executing a plan for our residents and workforce to be ready for this challenge," he concluded.

Marlboro County School Superintendent Dr. Helena Tillar emphasized the district's strong support for the project: "Marlboro County School District is delighted to be a partner with Northeastern Technical College, Marlboro Economic Development and local business and industry in the development of the Marlboro County Industry Training Center.   We are pleased to be able to offer the facilities where the training center will be located.  The school board and I feel strongly that this facility will improve the skill levels and the job opportunities for the citizens of Marlboro County.  We are also extremely excited about the options for our high school students to participate in the skill training program while they are currently enrolled at the high school (dual enrollment).  This joint collaboration is certainly evidence of our school district's efforts to ensure that our school community is workforce-ready.

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