News Releases for November 2006
November 28, 2006
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Hoeven: State Supporting Workforce Development Effort For LM Glasfiber Expansion
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today toured LM Glasfiber and met with General Manager Blake Seas and Mayor Michael Brown. The state has been working to help LM Glasfiber meet growing workforce needs through Job Service North Dakota and the state Department of Commerce. The company recently hired 200 new employees, bringing its total workforce to 500, and plans to have a total workforce of 700 to 800 employees by March 2007.
“Job Service North Dakota and the Commerce Department have been working closely with LM Glasfiber officials to meet the rapidly growing workforce needs and expansion of the company,” Hoeven said. “We are providing a customized workforce development strategy for the company, and working with others on a plan to expand research, development and workforce recruitment and training opportunities through the University of North Dakota.”
The City of Grand Forks, along with the State of North Dakota, has organized a team to visit with officials at LM Glasfiber headquarters in Denmark. Members of the team include Klaus Thiessen, president and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation; Hal Gershman, President of the Grand Forks City Council; Larry Anderson, director of Workforce Programs for Job Service North Dakota; and John Watson, Dean of the University of North Dakota School of Engineering and Mines.
The group will meet with company officials to discuss an expanded role in North America for the Grand Forks facility. Topics include:
Positioning Grand Forks as a North American hub for product development and training for LM Glasfiber. Establishing an internship training and tuition reimbursement program at the University of North Dakota for LM Glasfiber. Establishing Grand Forks as a site for product development.
“This is an example of a world-class company wanting to do business in North Dakota,” Thiessen said. “This is an initial trip, but the welcome mat is out. We’re here to support their growth in North Dakota.”
In addition to full-time employment with benefits, LM Glasfiber offers tuition reimbursement of up to $2,000. Employees qualify after 90 days for the following semester. The company is still currently hiring, from entry level positions to engineers and senior management.
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