Local Companies Encourage Students to Develop Skills Early

Not all successful careers require an extensive college education. Companies, including several in Cheyenne County are looking for people who have a strong work ethic and are willing to learn.

That is the message brought to students at Sidney High School Wednesday.

Representatives of four companies in the Sidney area met with students Wednesday, explaining opportunities available with or without a college education.

The program started with the presentation of statistics on the impact of manufacturing in Nebraska. An estimated 2,000 jobs in the state are in manufacturing, with an annual wage higher than the national average.

Erik Eide, plant manager for Progress Rail, explained the company. He said it started in 1983 in Alabama. It was purchased by Caterpillar in the early 2000s.

"It slowly got into the transportation industry," he said.

About six years ago, it purchased one of the locomotive manufacturers, ElectroMotiveDiesel (EMD). Progress Rail has six facilities in the region; two in Cheyenne County. Of the two, one is focused on rail car wheels.

"We provide 70 percent of the wheels under cars in North America," Eide said.

Progress Rail seeks a variety of job skills, from welders and laborers to professional skills.

"Now is a great time to get some of these experiences," he said.

In the last six months, Progress Rail hired more than 12 local workers. Eide added Progress Rail is a very large company with an extensive benefits package.

Tim Hausmann, plant manager for Adams Industries, talked about the diverse opportunities available in the company. Adams Industries has several divisions including trucking and warehousing. They ship everything from paper products to cement and pipes. They also staff carpenters, a dispatch team, an on-site safety manager as well as office staff.

Adams Industries, located northwest of Sidney, also hires workers as young as 16 for summer help.

Agri-Plastics was also represented at the program. Agri-Plastics is a Canadian company that expanded to Sidney in consideration of the shipping costs for customers in the area. Business has far surpassed expectation. They have a staff of 85 to 100 employees and expect to be at 120 by the end of the summer, doubling their predictions.

Pay starts at $13 to $14 per hour and will soon by staffing the facility 24/7. Several summer positions are anticipated. However, applicants need to be at least 18 years of age.

Sean Clymer, operations manager for Vitalix, said the company moved to Sidney following a facility fire in Alliance. They have expanded from the building the company purchased in the Industrial Park near Adams Industries, doubling the size of the former Alliance facility. Because of OSHA and safety requirements, Vitalix also requires applicants be at least 18 years of age.

Sidney Economic Development Director Melissa Norgard said the four companies represented Wednesday employ more than 200 workers in Cheyenne County.