Mount Vernon, Ohio

companies are taking on the task of training in-house as “our local industry has realized that sometimes they have to find the right person and then spend money on training.” United Aggregates, a Mount Vernon company that spans several generations, offers in-house driver training for what it describes as its “very versatile trucking business.” The firm’s wide range of service and product offerings makes it a large part of many city projects both directly and indirectly, from supplying concrete and aggregate, to hauling, recycling, and composting materials. With a system in place to recycle waste materials like concrete into a usable product, the company is a valuable resource for the city. “On top of that, they are wonderful community members, they engage in the community very well,” says Starr. “We are glad they are here.” While some companies in the industrial sector, such as AMG Industries, Ver Mac Industries, and Jeld Wen, are looking at expansion, there are also annual event where students are recruited by companies such as Liftco Concrete and Kokosing Construction. “It’s really interesting watching the room and you know you’ve got senior officials from these companies at a high school cookout. It’s almost like a football recruiting event. It is really interesting because the need for the union trade workers is real, and I feel like our folks here at the school system responded to that. They really stepped up their programs at the collegiate and at the higher level.” For adults who are seeking to update their skills or learn something new, the Knox County Career Center offers training and certification to meet the needs of the local industries. In addition, companies are creating programs to train for specific skills needed in their workforce. Ariel Corporation, one of Mount Vernon’s major employers, has built an on-site training facility for people who manufacture, sell, and use their custom gas compressors. Ball notes that many