WCCC and St. Croix Tissue Partnership
Washington County Community College and St. Croix Tissue, Inc. have announced a partnership that will lead to high-paying paper making jobs for workers in Downeast Maine.
St. Croix Tissue, Inc. announced earlier this year its to build a new state-of-the-art tissue paper production facility located in Baileyville, Maine. The company will be creating as many as 80 new jobs and will begin large-scale hiring in May 2015. The company and WCCC have partnered to design a one-year training program, to be offered at no cost to participants that will give those individuals who successfully complete the program the skills they need to be well prepared to compete for those new jobs. Additionally, those who successfully complete the program will be guaranteed an interview by St. Croix Tissue, Inc. next spring.
For its part, WCCC will partner with Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC), located in Fairfield, Maine, to bring several of KVCC’s pulp and paper making classes to WCCC’s Calais campus. “KVCC is delighted that key elements of our long-standing Pulp and Paper program will help to support WCCC and St. Croix in developing needed skills among the workforce Downeast. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Maine Community College System to leverage inter-campus collaboration for cross-regional benefit.” said KVCC President, Rick Hopper.
Additional classes – including math, communications, basic computer skills, and safety training – will be offered by WCCC. A grant from the Maine Quality Centers program, an initiative of the Maine Community College System, will enable WCCC to offer the training at no cost to up to 40 Maine residents.
“This is a great opportunity for men and women in eastern Maine to get their foot in the door with St. Croix Tissue. The jobs being created will be high-paying jobs in a high-end professional setting.” said WCCC President, Joe Cassidy.
“Individuals who successfully complete this program will be head and shoulders above their peers as candidates for the jobs we are creating in Baileyville.” said Tissue Manager, Martin Richard.
The program will begin in late September and will run through late April of next year. Applicants must be a Maine resident and hold a high school diploma, GED, or HiSet certificate to be eligible. For more information, please contact WCCC at 454-1012. The deadline for applications is September 5, 2014