Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
NEAPCO plant manager urges city help on workforce as council outlines housing and training steps
Summary
NEAPCO's plant manager told the council the Beatrice factory employs about 180 people and is hiring; council members pointed to city housing projects and college training programs as key tools to attract and retain workers.
Herb Greaby, plant manager at NEAPCO, updated the Beatrice City Council on April 6 about the company's local operations and workforce needs and asked the city what it is doing to attract employees.
Greaby said NEAPCO has operated in Beatrice since 1981 and now runs a three-shift operation with about 140 hourly and 40 salary employees. He stressed the importance of local housing and community supports to recruit workers and described the company's ongoing hiring for assembly, machining and engineering roles.
Council members and staff described several local steps intended to address workforce supply: redevelopment of four former elementary school sites into approximately 40 starter lots; rehabilitation of the Kensington property (adding 36 housing units); planned duplex construction near Stoddard; and alignment with Southeast Community College for certificate programs such as welding and the utility line worker course. City staff also said the economic development functions have been consolidated (Chamber, Main Street, economic group) to better coordinate recruitment.
Greaby said NEAPCO values reliable utilities and praised the public utilities for dependability. He noted the company's willingness to work with the college and high school on recruiting students for part-time and full-time roles.
Next steps: the council and city staff will continue housing and training initiatives meant to support local employers' hiring needs; NEAPCO will continue outreach to the college and the community to fill open positions.
