50 jobs created as a result of company's $50 million investment
Richmond - Governor Jim Gilmore today announced approval of a $200,000 grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist the City of Danville with site preparation for a maintenance training facility. The grant supports 50 jobs and an investment of $50 million that The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company made in its Danville manufacturing plant.
The training facility, a partnership between the City of Danville, Danville Community College, the Danville Public Schools, state agencies and Goodyear, will provide technical skills training for new process maintenance technicians and needed training for incumbent craftsmen/technicians.
"I am pleased to announce this positive news for Southside Virginia," Governor Gilmore said. "The 50 jobs this training supports pay twice the average wage for the region. My administration continues its commitment to assisting Danville and all Virginia localities in their economic development efforts."
"Goodyear is excited to be a part of this initiative which is critical to our competitiveness in the global marketplace," said Jim Konneker, Goodyear-Danville plant manager. "As Goodyear invests in new technology, we are faced with not only training new maintenance technicians but also with retraining our incumbent craftsmen. Workforce training and skills enhancement will be critical for successful investment in our Danville plant."
Governor Gilmore approved the grant from the Governor's Opportunity Fund to assist the City with site preparation. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the City of Danville also assisted. The Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide workforce training services.
"Since 1966 the City of Danville has successfully met Goodyear's needs," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Barry E. DuVal. "This partnership has allowed Goodyear to add the latest manufacturing technology while Southside residents benefit from 50 jobs."
Goodyear is a global manufacturer of tires for all sizes of vehicles, transportation products such as vehicle belts and hoses, rubber chemicals and engineered products such as conveyor belting and rubber engine components. The Danville plant, which employs approximately 2,600 people, manufactures medium radial truck and aircraft tires.
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