CELINA, OHIO -
At Celina Aluminum Precision Technology, employees make parts for Honda, and with Honda expanding, so is CAPT.
"That means new opportunities for business, additional parts for vehicles, things like that," said Tom Rable, Senior Manager, CAPT.
That also means the company is hiring in areas such as maintenance, machining, and engineering.
Economic development officials believe there are people to fill those jobs. However, they say many skilled workers and college graduates from the area moved to bigger cities to find employment.
"You know, we feel this is a special area, and there are a lot of kids that want to come back. They're just not sure they can," said Jared Ebbing, Economic Development Director, Mercer County.
So Ebbing, along with economic development officials in Auglaize County and representatives of area businesses came together to create a new initiative called Hometown Opportunities. A website is now being developed to link potential employees to prospective employers.
"This website should help make connections so they can come back," said Ebbing.
Other area businesses are also hiring. Crown Equipment, based in New Bremen, currently has 85 job postings on their website. And even though Crown is a lift truck manufacturer, the company has all sorts of openings.
"It goes well beyond skilled manufacturing although we do have a large need there. It does extend into our professional areas as well like engineering, IT, quality professionals and so on," said Pete Falk, Director of Personnel, Crown Equipment Corporation.
The website will be launched in November. Rable believes the initiative will be well received. The senior manager for CAPT originally moved to Dayton to find work, but he says he always wanted to return to his hometown.
"It took a little digging for me to find something... but it provided a great opportunity for myself. I really think there are those types out there looking to move back to Celina," said Rable.
Now, because of the Hometown Opportunities initiative, the search for a career close to home could be much easier.
Economic development officials and businesses are also working with high school students to show them what types of jobs are in demand.
And even though the website won't officially be launched until November, those interested can submit their information for updates at hometownopportunity.com.
