State organizing response to plant closing

In the wake of Thursday's announcement that the Energizer battery plant in Maryville will close its doors by December 2013, local and state economic development officials have begun mobilizing efforts to assist the more than 400 permanent and contract workers who will lose their jobs.

Energizer spokesman Ken Fields said last week the exact timing of the lay-offs and phased factory shut-down had yet to be determined, and that the company was working to address questions from employees.

In Jefferson City, Chris Pieper, acting director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, was reportedly "very much aware of the situation." Tye Parsons of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments said that a DED "rapid response team" is being dispatched to Maryville to help displaced workers begin their search for new jobs.

Just what that form that help will take is still being worked out, said Parsons, who added that a lot will depend on the kinds of state assistance requested by the company.

He said the local Missouri Career Center, which is administered through the Regional Council, would work with Energizer management in setting up programs for people forced to jump-start their working lives.

"A lot of those things are still up in the air," Parsons said. "The state is still developing their response."

Lee Langerock, executive director of Nodaway County Economic Development, issued a response soon after the Energizer announcement in which she pledged to "work with the company through their transition."

"At this time and in the future, our response team’s primary focus is on the affected workers, their families and ensuring support and training is provided as needed," Langerock said.

"We continue the process of working with existing businesses and attracting new opportunities to the city of Maryville and the northwest Missouri region. We have an excellent community, a diverse industry base and great resources that will ensure we continue to thrive."

Department of Economic Development spokesperson John Fougere told the Daily Forum Friday that the state is taking a "two-pronged approach" to the plant closing, with the first priority being to help laid-off workers find new jobs.

This effort, Fougere said, includes working with the local Career Center to make sure workers take advantage of programs designed to improve workplace skills and marketability. One example, he said, might be free workshops and certificate programs in such areas as computer literacy.

DED's second goal is to help Nodaway County Economic Development find another tenant for a half-million-square-foot manufacturing plant that will stand empty in about 13 months.

Ideally, Fougere said, the agency will help lead a corporate recruiting effort aimed at creating a "seamless transition," with another tenant moving into the facility just as Energizer moves out.

A key selling point, he said, will be "the great resources we have in the northwest part of the state, especially the skilled, trained and enthusiastic workforce that you have in Maryville."

In the meantime, the Career Center, located at 114 W. Third St. in Maryville, is open for business and has a number of programs in place for job seekers, including grants to pay for retraining and vocational education.

Depending on income-eligibility and other factors, money is also available for such expenses as transportation to training locations, employer-required uniforms and day care.

However, all such financial aid is limited to those who have actually been laid off. Workers who have been told they will lose their jobs in the near future must  wait until they have been pink-slipped in order to apply.

Other center services include no-cost assistance with resume preparation and interviewing skills.

"People can just come in, and we will lead them through the process," Parsons said.

Anyone interested in availing themselves of Career Center services can come by the office, call (660) 582-8980 or email Director Kim Mildward at kim@nwmorcog.org.