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Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News October 22, 2004 By Deb Cleworth Daily Tribune Staff, Daily Tribune Staff Mid-State Technical College will receive more than $600,000 over four years as part of a $4.9 million grant to help develop a curriculum for an academic certificate in the paper industry. Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday that MSTC will lead a 12-state region to develop a national network for pulp and paper technology. More than 150 people were on hand for Doyle's grant announcement at the Wisconsin Rapids campus. "We're competing with papermakers all over the world," the governor said. "(Wisconsin) is the No. 1 paper producer, and we must all work hard to make sure we maintain that position." Wisconsin has led the paper business for more than 50 years, but the industry has taken an international turn in the last five years, said Patrick Schillinger, president of the Wisconsin Paper Council. The result has been stiff competition that has reduced profits and forced cost-cutting measures, including mass layoffs in central Wisconsin. The grant will allow Wisconsin to advance its technology in the industry and improve worker training, keys to meeting global challenges, Doyle said. Indirectly, Wisconsin Rapids could benefit by attracting attention - and jobs - from paper manufacturers and other related businesses. Mid-State Technical College will be at the center of the project to provide better training, especially in technology, the governor said. "Being in the center of an effort like this really puts (Wisconsin Rapids) on the map nationally," Doyle said. "The college and Wisconsin Rapids will be in the center of the newest developments of papermaking." Mayor Jerry Bach agreed the technology center at MSTC puts Wisconsin Rapids back on the map "in a big way," and could benefit the community in other ways. "It certainly is going to bring more enrollment to the technical college," Bach said. Other industries might show an interest, he said, knowing the technical training - and potential job seekers - are available in Wisconsin Rapids. The college has programs related to the industry in place now, said James Bond, a physical, chemical and biological science instructor at the school. Bond is the Midwest regional director for the network. Additional courses would be more focused on the chemical, process chemistry, environmental regulations and processes and papermaking. "Conceivably, we could offer courses in those other areas as soon as next fall," Bond said. The new network also could benefit displaced workers from the paper industry, he said. "Our industry has taken a downturn lately," Bond said. "This is fantastic news, not only for our community, but for our state and nation." Craig Timm, manager of communications and government relations at Domtar Industries Inc., sees the grant and future programs as a plus for the community. "The timing is very good with the Community Progress Initiative," Timm said, referring to the local three-year economic development project. A grant award sends a powerful, positive message to others, he said. "We feel the key to the success of any business, especially in the paper industry, is a highly trained workforce," Timm said. The curriculum will graduate students ready to enter the industry with little or no additional training, and can provide opportunities for others, he said. "I think opportunity is a key word," Timm said. "This actually opens up opportunities for people." The same approach could be used in other industries, said John Clark, college president. "What we're doing can have applications in a variety of core programs that are the mainstays for this state," Clark said. You can reach Deb Cleworth at 422-6730 or dcleworth@wisconsinrapidstribune.com.
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