CONFLUENCE APRIL 13 – 14, 2017

The Rome-Floyd Chamber’s annual Confluence was held at the historic DeSoto Theatre in downtown Rome, Georgia on April 13^th and 14^th.  The Confluence is a two day conference of inspiration, innovation and motivation. The community-based event is planned and executed by the Rome Floyd Chamber with help from a large volunteer committee. The Confluence is designed to provide insights on emerging technical trends and generate ideas as well as promote an entrepreneurial spirit in the community. This year’s theme was, “Innovate, Inspire, and Invent.”  Keynote speakers included (among others) Dr. Bud Peterson, President of Georgia Institute of Technology, Janet Echelman, a world renowned artist, Dr. John Grout, Chairman of the Creative Technologies Department at Berry College, Dr. John Cowan, inventor of the FlipTable,” and Lee Hanson, Owner of The Guardian Innovations, LLC.

Presentations were provided by students from the Darlington STEM program and Pepperell High School highlighting their innovative projects. Dr. John Cowan’s presented his amazing and fun invention – The FlipTable!

TRAINING FOR WELDER QUALIFICATION

Chattahoochee Technical College, Paulding Campus, has partnered with Northwest Georgia Regional Commission’s WIOA Department to offer short-term training for welder qualification for the high demand career field of welding.

Training topics will include flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW).  The class starts April 28^th and end June 2^nd and will be taught by a highly-skilled instructor, will help students prepare for qualification testing for the AWS Structure Steel Code Plate Welding. Classes will be held at the Paulding Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College.

CONSTELLIUM AUTOMOTIVE USA, LLC

Constellium Automotive USA, LLC, a Netherlands-based company, is constructing a new 84,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Bartow County, Georgia, in response to growing demand for its automotive structures in North America. Constellium will manufacture automotive side impact beams, front-end structures and other safety components. Construction of the plant began in early 2016 with the start of production anticipated in mid-2017. Constellium expects to create approximately 150 high-tech manufacturing jobs at this location by 2019.

Constellium is a global sector leader strongly committed to designing and manufacturing innovative and high value-added aluminium products and solutions for a broad range of applications dedicated primarily to aerospace, automotive and packaging markets. Constellium operates 25 manufacturing sites in Europe, North America and China. The company is headquartered in Amsterdam (The Netherlands) with corporate offices in Paris (France), Zurich (Switzerland) and New York (United States).

American Apprenticeship Initiative Grant

Due to the high productivity and technological advances in today’s advanced manufacturing workplaces, access to talented labor with advanced skills is a critical need among employers. As more companies become workforce challenged, innovative workforce development strategies are being initiated to help provide training to fill the talent-gap chasm. The most popular of these, whether provided internally or from outside resources, are work-based learning programs such as apprenticeship, internship, co-ops and on-the-job training.

In response to critical workforce needs expressed by Georgia employers, the Georgia Department of Economic Development – Workforce Division, through its Georgia WorkSmart work-based learning initiative, received an American Apprenticeship Initiative Grant Award.  On-the-Job training funded through WIOA at the Georgia Department of Labor may complement the training.

Sarah Harrison, Regional Apprenticeship Coordinator for Region 1, serves as a liaison between employers, technical colleges and participants involved in a Registered Apprenticeship program. According to Harrison, “A monumental event occurred on November 15^th, when the eight participating Georgia technical colleges signed agreements to become Registered Apprenticeship sponsors, taking a huge administrative burden off employers.”

Interested businesses are encouraged to contact Harrison at 706.459.4485 or sharrison@georgia.org for more information.

May Meetings

• Workforce Development Board/Youth Committee – May 17, 2017 at noon at Northwest Georgia Technical College
• Proposal Review Committee – May 17, 2017 at 11:00 am at Northwest Georgia Technical College
• Nominating Committee – May 17, 2017 at 11:00 am at Northwest Georgia Technical College
• CCEO – May 18, 2017 at 10:30 am at Gordon County Agricultural Services Center