For the City Times

Many organizations across the United States work to ensure good jobs in their communities. Some do this by investing in education, workforce training, or economic development projects.

In addition to these, Incourage will now provide a new service: consulting to local employers that focuses on job quality.

Through a $50,000 National Fund for Workforce Solutions grant for its Workforce Central program, Incourage will pilot a customized job quality business assessment and improvement service. This service will help local employers improve business results by supporting them to attract, grow, and retain their workforce. The first local employer to pilot this service will be Mariani Packing Company.

Starting in February, Incourage staff and manufacturing experts will begin working with Mariani’s leadership. Together they will assess the firm’s current policies and practices, and identify opportunities to engage workers in solutions.

“Continuous improvement and building for the future are two of Mariani’s core values,” said Steve Berlyn, Mariani General Manager. “We are committed to hiring locally and providing our workers opportunities for growth and development. We are excited to work with Incourage on this project, which will help us look at our workforce design and culture from a new perspective.”

“There’s a real win-win opportunity here,” said Incourage’s Jenny Riggenbach. “Businesses today require more than trained workers. They need teams that work well together and are ready to innovate. And in turn, workers today want employers who are committed to their community and to providing a good place to work.”

Workforce Central is one of four National Fund for Workforce Solutions partner communities awarded this grant, along with Cincinnati, Baltimore and Wichita. The National Fund promotes community prosperity built on valuing workers, supporting local employers and investing in economic growth.

“Wisconsin Rapids is a community that values work and takes great pride in our local companies,” said Kristopher Gasch, Incourage Board Chair. “We appreciate Mariani’s willingness to pilot this strategy and share its learnings with the community and our national peers.”