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Lt. Gov. Reynolds stops at ACI [Clinton Herald, Iowa]
[September 17, 2014]

Lt. Gov. Reynolds stops at ACI [Clinton Herald, Iowa]


(Clinton Herald (IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 17--CLINTON -- On company tours, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds said she likes to see what the state is doing right for small business and what it can do better. On Tuesday, managers at Clinton's Air Control, Inc. gave her the straight answers.



To them there have been correct, executive-led steps to recruit business and workers to Iowa. While Reynolds admitted keeping the workforce hasn't always worked out, she was able to point to strong post-recession numbers that demonstrate the "Keep Iowa Working" slogan she and Gov. Terry Branstad harp.

As for what Iowa can do better, shop supervisor Mitch Mangan said there have been missteps in education that hinder manufacturing groups like his ACI. Fortunately for the company, it's maintained longevity in its workers -- getting 30 to 40 years of employment out of them in some cases.


However, Mangan is fearful for what workers will be left once those skilled workers reach retirement age. He wasn't afraid to share those concerns with Reynolds.

"One of her goals is to create more jobs in the state of Iowa," Mangan said. "Education is a big thing for her, the way it sounded, and it was really enjoyable to hear that." Joined by owner Mary Connell and 28-year-old son Sean, Mangan showed Reynolds ACI's latest approaches to manufacturing clean air machinery. The company is even developing a patent for one of its designs: a filter that collects spark residue which leads to poorer circulation.

"A lot of the younger generations are leaving the state of Iowa," Mangan said. "We can't have that." Time and again, the group was able to pull workers aside who have spent decades with ACI. They are people who received education in high school that equipped them to do the skilled work the plant on 14th Avenue North requires.

That training has gone away. Mangan would like to see it return.

"It all goes back to education," Mangan said. "There's a lot of good paying jobs in the state of Iowa in manufacturing and the trades." Reynolds mostly listened and offered her thoughts for sound approaches. On education, she agreed. To her, it goes hand-in-hand with recruiting and continuing to grow jobs.

"I don't think I've been in a business yet over the past three years where they're not having trouble with finding workforce," she said afterward. "There was a lot of longevity here, not a lot of turnover. But as we look to the future and growing that company, they need to make sure they have that skilled workforce here." Reynolds cited current steps being made: tripled state funding in apprenticeship programs; increases in federal appropriations for workforce development.

Following the tour, Reynolds left for a private visit with Archer Daniels Midland.

Assistant Editor Brenden West can be contacted at [email protected] ___ (c)2014 the Clinton Herald (Clinton, Iowa) Visit the Clinton Herald (Clinton, Iowa) at clintonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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