Page 4 - CEP newsletter 3 2020 FINAL 082620

Rittal Invests Housing Consortium Begins Work

in Future The newly formed Champaign Infrastructure – to review ordi-
Continued from Page 1 County Housing Consortium nances, zoning, lot size require-
has begun meeting to review ments, etc.
and future workforce recommendations made in the
needs, Love said. Here Champaign County Housing Incentives – to inform decision-
are three examples: Market Study, conducted by making about incentives to sup-
the Greater Ohio Policy Center port housing development and to
Apprenticeships (GOPC), to guide Champaign examine how public financing
could help provide desired hous-
Rittal, partnering with Ap- County leaders on local hous- ing types
prenticeOhio and Clark ing needs.
State Community College, Marketing – to attract develop-
has three four-year ap- The consortium developed this ers and calculate their return on
prentices – one in industri- David Vanderveen vision statement: Champaign investments
al engineering and two in County is a live, work and play
maintenance engineering. to provide purposeful work” community that offers residents The subcommittees have begun
for TAC associates. a modern, diverse lifestyle in meeting, and the next full consor-
David Vanderveen, an charming villages and the City tium meeting, by Zoom, is sched-
assembler at Rittal for six UD Partnership of Urbana. Our community uled for September 16.
years, is the industrial A team of business under- locations, coupled with our
engineering apprentice. graduates completed their friendly hometown environ- Consortium priorities include:

He was looking into re- senior capstone project at ment, are assets for residents • Prioritize downtown and
turning to school for engi- Rittal, for which they won of all ages. main street development.
neering when Rittal an- the University of Dayton’s • Use economic development
nounced the apprentice- 2020 Outstanding Opera- Consortium members are: tools established by local
ship. Love says about tions Senior Team of the John Brown, Kerry Brugger, government.
Vanderveen: “He’s one of Year Award. Tim Cassady, Brenda Cook, • Protect existing housing
those hidden gems you Doug Crabill, April Huggins stock and prevent decline.
have in your organization. Wolf said he gave the team Davis, Gene Fields, Lee Hen- • Develop creative financing
He’s growing very quickly free rein to investigate ways derson, Terry Howell, Dusty strategies to promote devel-
and showing great poten- to reorganize Rittal’s wood- Hurst, Todd Michael, Spencer opment.
tial in his apprenticeship.” based product supply chain, Mitchell, Jamon Sellman,
including pallets. “They Amber Smith, Andy Yoder and CEP Director Marcia Bailey add-
Love adds, “Increasingly found a vendor that saved Carolyn Young. Others will be ed that the housing market study
there is a drive for appren- us more than $100,000. invited to serve on committees. and the Champaign County
ticeships, as we have less They found a solution that Comprehensive Plan recommend
people with technical we couldn’t, even when we The consortium formed sub- encouraging development in or
backgrounds in the work- tried several times,” Wolf committees to focus on: near incorporated areas to pre-
place. It’s a great way to said. Rittal plans to continue Products – to help determine serve the county’s agricultural
grow our capability.” And it the partnership with an eye types of housing needed and environment.

provides the Rittal appren- on expanding its talent pool. ensure affordability Visit CEPOhio.com to review the
tices the chance to ad- complete study.
vance their careers while
being paid and avoiding KTH Needing to Hire More Production Associates
debt from education.
Continued from Page 1 • Emphasizing that associ- “At KTH we pride ourselves
TAC Partnership ates stay home when they on our dedicated workforce,
protect its workforce, Millice are not feeling well which is one of the best in
TAC (The Abilities Con- said. This includes: the industry, as we work
nection), which serves • Restricting all non- through labor demand con-
and employs people with • Facial coverings, sanitiz- essential visitors from straints and follow COVID
developmental or physical ing and social distancing entering the plant safe practices,” Millice says.
disabilities, has placed
five associates who sup- • Moving some work-
port Rittal’s industrial engi- stations or placing barri-
neering team. They cut ers between work- Contact Us
gaskets for IT racks and stations to ensure proper
complete other tasks as distancing Champaign Economic Partnership
needed. • Requiring face shields 3 Monument Square
Urbana, OH 43078
Claus Wolf, Rittal’s Sourc- and masks for associ-
ates who work in pro-
ing and Procurement cesses where social Call us: 937-653-7200
Manager, said that the distancing cannot be
partnership has “helped Email us: info@cepohio.com
us as a business when accommodated Website: CEPOhio.com; Facebook: CEPOhio
hiring for open positions is • Hiring personnel whose
challenging. And it’s full-time job is to wipe Twitter: @cepohio; Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., M-F
helped us to connect with down high-traffic areas
the wider community and several times a day