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Marcy Kaptur in Toledo, discussing manufacturing job training

Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives spent Monday morning at the Scott Park Campus of the University Toledo. The topic of the discussion was job training in the changing world of manufacturing and technology.
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (Source: WTOL)

TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives spent Monday morning at the Scott Park Campus of the University Toledo. The topic of the discussion was job training in the changing world of manufacturing and technology.

It is all part of the Make It in America Act, or Buy American Act. House representatives are traveling the country to promote not just buying American made products, but making sure Americans are trained to get the jobs which make those products.

It was a very energetic discussion led by Congresswoman Representative Marcy Kaptur with Minority Whip Steny Hoyer as well as a representative from California.

Nearly two dozen people representing many aspects of job placement training, recruitment and employment discussed how to create community partnerships to ensure job readiness.

Hale Performance Coatings and the Cherry Street Mission also attended the discussion.

"Created through cooperation from industry, our educational institutions, though not for profit groups all working to skills train those who will go to work in our various companies," Representative Kaptur said.

The UAW and and Fiat Chrysler representatives spoke about the importance of training future workers at a place like Northwest State Community College and UT, as it has allowed the automotive manufacture to outsource the job training.

"Fiat Chrysler is our largest employer," Representative Kaptur explained. "They were talking about the thousands of workers currently employed who have gone thru skills refinement and advancement so that they can deal with all of the new equipment and talking about how many more people are going to be hired. Of course they'll have to have higher levels of training based on what is happening in the industry today."

When asked how the Congress will keep up with the changing innovation and manufacturing Representative Kaptur says it is all a part of the Make It in America Tour where representatives are going to local cities and finding out how to make sure that the jobs go to the people living in these areas.

"You need to keep training up," House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said. "There needs to be a partnership between federal state and local there needs to be a partnership between businesses and academics."

Part of this future includes gaining support from Congress and other regions.

"We've really created new pods of economic opportunity in our region but, the pace of change is faster. We have to be agile in order to meet that new future," Representative Kaptur said.

Toledo Public Schools also spoke about the need for continued job training for students so they can step right into work after graduation.

The group brought up the importance of bridge programs that assist people transitioning out of homelessness and into a stable job.

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