Despite the recession, good-paying jobs are available in the Kanawha Valley if you've got
skills that are in demand. Just look at the chemical industry.
Even though chemical companies in the valley have shed hundreds of jobs in the past decade, the industry in West
Virginia still employs more than 1,100 "chemical process operators" the workers who run chemical plants. Over the
next three years up to 200 operator jobs will become available, according to the industry.
Some of the jobs will be at new facilities. In Belle, the Kureha Group of Japan is building a $100 million plant to make
a specialty plastic that will be used in beverage packaging. Kureha now employs 10 Americans and three Japanese
expatriates. The company plans to hire 12 operators in October or November, plus a crew chief, a supervisor and a
safety, health and environment specialist. Kureha expects to eventually have about 50 permanent employees at Belle.
Although new facilities are a factor, the biggest labor issue facing the industry in the valley is its aging workforce.
"Our veteran workers are retiring and we need new, qualified people to fill the ranks. These are real, immediate
opportunities," said Bill Menke, manager of DuPont's Belle Plant.
To fill the expected openings, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association's Chemical Industry Committee has
teamed with the Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College at Institute and Bridgemont Community and
Technical College at Montgomery to offer a one-year, 26-hour program that provides enrollees with a core set of
technical skills.
By adding six hours of general education in English and technical math, a student may earn a 32-hour certificate
degree. The colleges also offer a two-year, 60-hour associate degree.
To accommodate people with day jobs, many classes are offered evenings and some are offered online.
Interested individuals may find out more about the training today. There will be an open house at 5:30 p.m. in
Building 740 at the South Charleston Technology Park.
More information also is available by calling 304-766-5113 or by visiting the program's Web site at
www.wvchemicaljobs.com
.
Classes for this program start Monday. Each chemical company determines what is required to become a "qualified applicant" for chemical process operator jobs. Some firms may only require completion of the 26-hour program. Others may require a 32-hour certificate degree. Still others may insist on an associate degree. Chemical process operators are paid in the range of $19 to $24 an hour, plus benefits. The Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College's tuition rate is $123 per credit hour. Therefore, the 32-hour certificate degree would cost $3,941. Books would cost about $700, so the total cost is about $4,641, said Laura McCullough, vice president of the college's Workforce and Economic Development Division. Students who qualify may receive financial aid from the federal government for tuition and related expenses. For
more information visit a student adviser at one of the schools. Information also is posted on the federal student aid
Web site at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Contact writer George Hohmann at busin...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4836.
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/200908101261 8/12/2009