James M. Jeffords: “The Springfield region of Vermont currently faces a crisis in the machine tool industries. Six major machine tool…”

“The Springfield region of Vermont currently faces a crisis in the machine tool industries. Six major machine tool employers in the area indicate that more than 50 percent of their workforce will retire within the next five to seven years. This will create the need for highly skilled employees to fill more than 700 positions in machine technology. In addition, other employers in the areas of information technology, hospitality and travel, financial services and food services industries indicate that they have an urgent need for a responsive education delivery system designed to meet their growing demand for skilled labor. I understand that the conference report includes funds for the Springfield Workforce Development Center to implement innovative training and vocational education strategies to meet the education, workforce and economic development needs of the region.”