Advanced Training & Technology Center
joplincc.com/attc
The goals of the Advanced Training & Technology Center (ATTC) are being met, as most every student trained at the Center is obtaining employment and entrepreneurs are finding success through the Center’s business incubator.
A partnership between the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, City of Joplin, Crowder College and Workforce Innovation Board, the Center includes Crowder-taught classes in welding, advanced manufacturing, information technology, computer-aided drafting and community health.
Crowder is nearly doubling enrollment each semester at the center as the courses offered continue to grow in popularity. In addition, they are near 100% job placement for graduates.
“The certifications Crowder offers at ATTC are in high demand in the region,” said Loni Smith, Director of Small Business Incubation at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. “We often have employers host job fairs on site and recruit before graduation.”
In addition to the classroom areas, the building has more than 6,000 square feet of additional business incubator space, including a full commercial kitchen to incubate culinary businesses. The incubator space is the only one of its kind in Joplin, and can ease the financial burden on entrepreneurs in a variety of fields who are trying to get a business off the ground.
“Our partnerships with local educators are critical to being able to provide vital resources to local entrepreneurs and small business owners. Their services and expertise help shape the culture and success of local business,” Smith said. “Our collective abilities to train and educate small business owners will help determine their ultimate success for years to come.”
There are several small businesses in the Center and most have reported job creation in the last year, Smith said.
Several new activities are planned – or already taking place – at the Center:
- Educational workshops in partnership with the Small Business Development Center at Missouri Southern State University geared toward starting a new business and helping enhance best practices once your business is established. It is a quarterly series facilitated by SBDC and open to the general public as well.
- A partnership with the Downtown Joplin Alliance to host events on building entrepreneurial culture in the region.
- Developing an Entrepreneurs in Residence program where the Center pulls resources from newly retired executives and entrepreneurs in the region to help mentor new businesses and develop a greater sense of entrepreneurial community.
- Hosting a needs assessment of the entrepreneurs in the region to help better understand their needs.
“Local business partners and networking are what drive the local economy,” Smith said. “Through a collaborative effort between educators, business owners and entrepreneurs, we are positioning ourselves to raise the Joplin brand and turn our region into a prosperous hub for all. The Chamber’s network of businesses and their willingness to work for the greater good of our community is what will set us apart regionally. We are on the cusp of something great.”
Contact Loni Smith at (417) 624-4150 or loni@joplincc.com for more information about the Advanced Training & Technology Center and its offerings.
Schaeffler Company Profile
schaeffler.com
Did you know that one of the world’s leading technology companies in family ownership manufactures its state-of-the-art products right here in Joplin? We are that company. We are Schaeffler* – and we have been employing generations of Joplin’s families for almost 50 years.
The Schaeffler Group – together with its INA, FAG and Barden product brands – is one of the world’s leading integrated industrial and automotive suppliers. Schaeffler is synonymous with highest quality, outstanding technology and a singular innovative ability. Industry firsts – such as the development of the needle roller & cage assembly, or the groundbreaking ball grinding machine that is regarded as the foundation of the entire rolling bearing industry – have earned Schaeffler a unique distinction among the world’s great technology companies.
Schaeffler is one of the world’s largest technology firms in family ownership, encompassing a worldwide network of manufacturing plants, R&D facilities and sales companies at approximately 170 locations in over 50 countries. Schaeffler’s Industrial Division offers a portfolio of over 225,000 products for more than 60 industrial sectors.
With a full line of rolling, linear and plain bearing solutions for a wide range of industrial applications, along with high-precision components and systems for engine, transmission and chassis applications, the Schaeffler Group is actively shaping “Mobility for Tomorrow” as well as Industry 4.0 – the next Industrial Revolution.
*If you live in Joplin, you’ve known us all these years as FAG Bearings!
OUTSTANDING BUSINESS RESOURCES
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic & Workforce Development branch embraces local and regional initiatives in its efforts to improve economic prosperity in the Joplin region. From influencing public policy on behalf of the business community, to leading task forces designed to improve infrastructure and encourage technology-oriented startups, developing Southwest Missouri is a core focus at JACC.
Affiliated Organizations
The Chamber is affiliated with a number of organizations, subsidiary corporations and joint ventures aimed at growing the region. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, for example, promotes endeavors that support charitable, cultural and educational programs and projects. The Foundation supports educational programs such as Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, Leadership Joplin and Young Professionals Network, and oversees the Newman Innovation Center and the Advance Training & Technology Center.
Chamber staff members also overlap as staff for a variety of these affiliate organizations, including the MOKAN Partnership (MOKAN) and Joplin Capital Corporation (JCC). The MOKAN provides revenue sources to support the economic development efforts in the Joplin area, while the JCC furnishes small business loans and/or equity for projects that would not be financed through conventional means.
JACC staff also supports efforts specific to the area inside the city limits of Joplin. The Joplin Industrial Development Authority, operated by chamber staff, strives to develop and market the Crossroads Business Park as well as maintain the Joplin-Webb City Industrial Park.
JACC also has a voice in redevelopment, which oversees implementation of the master plan for the region. The master plan encompasses long-range community planning and direction across all sectors, including economic development, downtown development, transportation improvements, medical care, social services and arts, culture and recreation.
The Joseph Newman Innovation Center
The Joseph Newman Innovation Center (NIC) provides a positive environment for entrepreneurs and the development of innovative new businesses. With office spaces available for lease and shared amenities such as conference rooms, break room and telecommunications infrastructure, the NIC provides a professional atmosphere for focusing on your new business without the risk of having to sign a long-term lease agreement. Located downtown, the NIC blends accessibility with a professional, urban atmosphere.
Perhaps even more beneficial than the space itself is the network of business experts who can be accessed through connections at the NIC. Businesses of all types can benefit from the expertise of the Joplin team, which includes Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce staff, the Small Business Development Center at Missouri Southern State University, Downtown Joplin Alliance and other statewide development agencies. Access to these resources is not restricted to the Center’s tenants. Our goal is to assist the entire region, not one building. NIC Director Loni Smith emphasizes the significant positive impact the facility has had not only on the fortunes of tenants, but also on the economic prosperity of the region.
Since 2005, The Joseph Newman Innovation Center has assisted dozens of tenants and contributed to the creation of hundreds of jobs. The planned revamp over summer 2019 will help push the NIC into the future and create an exciting entrepreneurial atmosphere to continue a more robust version of business and job creation.
Contact Loni Smith at (417) 624-4150 or loni@joplincc.com for more information about The Joseph Newman Innovation Center and its offerings.
Serving the Regional Business Community
MOKAN Partnership
mokanpartnership.com
(417) 624-4150
This six-county partnership across Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma markets the region for the purpose of business attraction. The partnership identifies and helps companies evaluating locations for relocation or expansion. MOKAN Partnership provides site selection assistance, tax and business incentive information, connections to important contacts in the region, business data and access to helpful resources for workforce recruitment and training.
“The Joplin region is a great place for any type of business looking for a place to relocate or expand to,” said Director Kevin Welch. “The region has fantastic community partners, great transportation access, an able and skilled workforce, national and worldwide renowned educational and training facilities, and a low cost of doing business – plus it’s a great place to live!”
Contact Kevin Welch at kwelch@mokan.com for more information on the MOKAN Partnership and how it can help you.