Cedar Rapids Today

Iowa Central Community College recently issued the following announcement.

Tyson Fresh Meats Donation Boosts Industrial Maintenance Training

Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., today announced the donation of fully-equipped mechanical and hydraulic benches to Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) and Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) to support industrial maintenance training in their high school career academies.  

The donation is part of the company’s efforts to increase the availability of training for skilled maintenance and refrigeration workers by supporting automation, industrial maintenance, ammonia refrigeration and robotics programs.

In Iowa, this has included contributions since 2016 of more than $650,000 in equipment and funding to Muscatine Community College, Iowa Western Community College, Western Iowa Tech Community College, Eastern Iowa Community College, in addition to DMACC and ICCC.

“Our company and other manufacturers with operations in Iowa have a tremendous need for more workers with strong vocational skills,” said Steve Stouffer, group president, Tyson Fresh Meats. “We value the partnerships we’ve developed with DMACC and ICCC to help meet this need through new and improved training programs.”

The donation of the equipment was made to each school as part of the Tyson 1+2 Maintenance Training program graduation recently held at the Hotel Pattee in Perry. Ten students graduated from the program, which provides the opportunity to work full-time at a Tyson facility, while pursuing a certificate in industrial maintenance technology. The 9-month program involves students attending classes in the morning and working at Tyson in the afternoon.

“Tyson Fresh Meats has proven to be an outstanding partner,” said Michael J Hoffman, executive director Continuing Education, DMACC.  “Their commitment to this nontraditional training program continues to help DMACC provide college level coursework to individuals in the Perry area who otherwise might not have been able to attend these courses. This program changes lives in the local area, and we look forward to starting our fourth group this summer.” 

 “Iowa Central is committed to meeting the needs of providing a skilled workforce through training initiatives,” said Dr. Dan Kinney, president, Iowa Central Community College.  “Partnerships with innovative companies such as Tyson Fresh Meats, continue to provide great opportunities to the businesses, employees and the communities we serve.”

Tyson Foods and its subsidiaries operate case-ready and prepared foods plants in Council Bluffs, a pet treat plant in Independence, pork plants in Louisa County and Perry, pork and prepared foods plants in Waterloo, and pork and turkey plants in Storm Lake.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp®, and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 141,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

Original source: https://www.iowacentral.edu/news/article.asp?ID=461