5 NH Firms to Receive Workforce Training Grants

Aaron and Adria Bagshaw run Nashua-based W.H. Bagshaw Co., one of five companies to get help with workforce training.

NH Office of Workforce Opportunities in Concord has approved Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWT) grants for workforce training programs for 120 employees at five New Hampshire companies.

The grants were made possible through the efforts of the NH Sector Partnerships Initiative (SPI), which advocates for creating partnerships within the state’s largest employment sectors and aligning them with training resources that lead to enhancing employee knowledge and skillsets.

The five companies that received funds are Northeastern Nonwovens, Inc., C & M Machine Products, W.H. Bagshaw Co., Graphicast and Granite State Manufacturing.

“We are very pleased that these companies are taking advantage of this federal funding opportunity to offer their employees additional opportunities for professional advancement and address their workforce challenges,” says Michael Power, community outreach administrator for the Office of Workforce Opportunity. “SPI plays an important role in connecting the dots between funding opportunities and companies in high growth sectors including advanced manufacturing, construction, technology, hospitality and healthcare.” 

Northeastern Nonwovens, Inc. is a Rochester-based manufacturer of engineered nonwoven fabrics and composite materials. Seven of the company’s employees will participate in an Effective Leadership Training Program, provided by the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP).

C & M Machine Products is a supplier of precision engineered, designed and manufactured metal parts and components, located in Hudson. Eighty C & M Machine Products employees will participate in four different trainings that will be hosted in-house, beginning in August. Twelve employees will participate in Job Boss training, 80 employees will participate in Quality Management System training, 80 will participate in 5S/Lean training and 30 employees will participate in a GD & T/Blueprint Reading training.

Nashua-based W.H. Bagshaw Co. is a domestic and international supplier of all types of pins, pin assemblies and wire products, as well as a parts supplier for medical, aerospace, defense and high-tech industries in the CNC market. Eight company employees will participate in a three-day Effective Leadership training, provided by the NH MEP, in mid-September.

Graphicast is a Jaffrey-based single source provider of finished components to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) of commercial and industrial products, specializing in concurrent engineering. Twenty-one company employees will participate on a 5S Kaizen/Lean training. The training will occur over two to three days, will take place in early August and will be provided by the NH MEP.

Granite State Manufacturing is a manufacturer of specialized equipment for the defense, medical, semiconductor and industrial market segments, based in Manchester. Four Granite State Manufacturing employees will participate in a Hand Soldering Certification course. The course is scheduled for mid-September, is provided by EPTAC and will certify participants for two years.

According to a statement, the grants will provide $68,268 ($571 per trainee) for workforce development training programs. Between all five companies that have been approved, 120 employees will receive training, and 80 employees will be participating in more than one training. The resources these companies receive will help them upskill their employees and strengthen and build sector partnerships. As a matching requirement for the grant funds, all employees will be paid during their training.