Training program puts 10 newly minted welders in local work force

Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 9--DECATUR -- Asked to complete one final job readiness test at their graduation, welding trainees met expectations they would look program leaders in the eye and shake their hands as they received their certificates. Several went above and beyond and also gave hugs. "These are the teachers I should have had when I was in school," said James "J.T." Taylor, 37, of Decatur. "They're good people." Teamwork was a recurring theme of the ceremony Wednesday afternoon at the Decatur Area Technical Academy's welding lab as 10 people graduated from 10 weeks of training. The program was funded by a $50,000 Job Training and Economic Development Grant awarded this spring to the Community Foundation of Decatur/Macon County by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development. But it was made... [read full story]