manufacturing

Business Beat: Growing Latino population bring changes in small town mid-Missouri

By Kara Tabor & Daniela Vidal & Jacqueline LeBlanc • Apr 7, 2015

Daniela Vidal and Jacqueline LeBlanc / KBIA

You might not expect to find too much of Mexico in Missouri. But small towns across the state, like Mexico, Missouri are adapting to a growing Latino population.

The last census reported the state of Missouri saw a nearly 80 percent increase in the Latino population from 2000 to 2010.

So it’s no surprise to hear conversations in Spanish when you step into Diva 27, a Mexican grocery and clothing store in Mexico. Boxes of tortillas, fresh sweet bread, spices and figurines of famous Mexican comedians line the shelves.

Rochester Focuses On A New Picture Of American Manufacturing

By David Greene • Sep 29, 2014

Rochester, N.Y., was once the imaging capital of the world, home to Kodak, Xerox and the eye care company, Bausch + Lomb.

Led by these companies, the manufacturing sector once employed 60 percent of Rochester's workforce. Now, that's less than 10 percent. And so, like many cities in this country, Rochester is trying to build something new from its manufacturing heritage.

If you want to understand the story of Rochester, says historian Carolyn Vacca, you need to come to High Falls, where from a bridge visitors see a waterfall and a panoramic view of downtown.

Manufacturing companies say jobs are available but there is a lack of qualified workers

By Associated Press • Sep 2, 2014

Manufacturing companies in Kansas and Missouri say there are plenty of high-paying jobs available for people qualified to run sophisticated factory equipment, but there doesn't seem to be enough local talent to fill them.

Roofing company to build plant in Moberly, Mo.

By Associated Press • Mar 19, 2014

A leading shingle manufacturing company says it will build a new production facility in the central Missouri town of Moberly.

STEM jobs make up a big part of the Columbia work force

By Scott Pham • Jun 10, 2013

The talk around STEM employment (jobs in the fields of science, technology, math and engineering) has largely circled around jobs that require a great deal of education.

State Fair Community College receives funds to enhance programs

By Jonathan Deutsch • Oct 16, 2012

A new manufacturing consortium between nine community colleges around the state is focused on improving the education for manufacturing students. The $15 million program, in conjunction with MOManufacturingWINs, provides specialized training. Dana Kelchner, State Fair Community College spokeswoman, said the program might change, but it’s to guide the students toward certification.

Report shows increase in Jefferson City manufacturing jobs

By William Joy • Sep 21, 2012

A new report from the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce showed the share of manufacturing jobs in the city has increased almost 23 percent. The chamber recently partnered with a Jefferson City-based economic research company, The Growth Service Group, to put together the report.

Manufacturing leads the way in Mo. job creation

By Connor Wist • Sep 19, 2012

The latest Department of Economic Development report shows there were almost 18,000 new jobs in Missouri in August. The manufacturing industry added the most jobs with an increase of nearly 5,000 new positions.

Missouri Department of Economic Development spokesperson John Fougere says Missouri’s progress in job creation continues to grow following a big drop during the recession.

Building company moves to Montgomery City, projects 20 new jobs

By Samantha Sunne • Apr 5, 2012

Porta-King Building Systems, a manufacturing company, announced an expansion in Montgomery City.