MONTGOMERY— A $49,282 grant from Gov. Bob Riley will help workers at a Gadsden company upgrade their job skills and help their employer earn a certification required by many customers.   

R-Tech Inc. will use the grant to pay a portion of the cost to train all 27 employees in methods to improve efficiency and reduce waste. The company, which makes electronic parts for the aerospace, marine and medical industries, will contribute $80,606 toward the training cost.

“In today’s economy, maintaining a highly skilled, efficient workforce is a key to business survival,” Riley said.  “I am pleased to assist Alabama workers improve their job security by increasing their skills.” 

Company officials say the training will give employees marketable job skills, improving their long-term earning potential by 10 percent while boosting the company’s efficiency by 20 percent. The training will help R-Tech attain certification by the International Organization for Standardization, a requirement in many contracts. The training will be conducted over a 12-month period.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to Alabama as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley notified Donald J. Ryan, the company’s president, that he had approved the grant.

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers