R.S. Scott Associates Increases Productivity Thanks to Going PRO Training Grant

R.S. Scott Associates specializes in designing bridges, roads, county buildings, park, trails, and land developments. When they were in need to train new hires and were seeking grant funding to help pay for the training, they came to Michigan Works! to apply for the Going PRO Talent Fund. With assistance from Michigan Works!, R.S. Scott Associates received $4,580 to train one existing employee and two new hires.

R.S. Scott specifically needed the training to take place early in the year, as that is their leanest period in the calendar. In addition, some of trainings for hew hires to receive the certifications needed to do their jobs are only held in Jan-May of each year. The employees received Density Testing provided by Ferris State University, Concrete Field testing provided by the Michigan Concrete Association, and Computerized Office Technician training provided by American Council of Engineering Companies of MI.

Julie Peters, R.S. Scott Business Manager, reports that the training was very positive and led to their two  new hires receiving the certifications and skills needed to be able to actually do the jobs there were hired for. The existing employee who received Certified Office Technician training resulted in a new position at the company for him, as well as a $1.50/hr raise while he’s learning the ropes of his new position. One of the new hires has also proven himself to go above and beyond, resulting in a $1/hr raise already!

“The training grant significantly reduced the cost of training for us, and free up funds for us to be able to send our new hires to another training class that we would not have been able to afford,” shares Julie. “With the help of the Going PRO grant funds for our required new hire training, we were able to afford two new hires instead of just one at a time of year when funds are typically short for us!”

Excited about the training he received, Ryan Cooke, newly certified Office Technician shares, “The training got me started on my new position as the "office tech in training" that I will be working on while learning from others who are filling the role now. I am the only certified office tech we have, which is pretty cool!”