MONROE - Orchid International will receive $100,000 from a National Emergency Grant to retrain 30 displaced workers at its Monroe facility.
In an announcement Wednesday at Orchid's manufacturing plant, 350 21st St., director of Orchid's Laminations Group Keith Cornacchia announced three or four people will be hired immediately, while the remaining workers will be hired in 2012.
"This is an incredible victory for this plant," Cornacchia said.
Cornacchia said the plant is developing lightweight electric motors for General Motors. The motors will be used by the company in its 2013 sports utility vehicles, he said.
"You will see a fully electric vehicle driving around Monroe," Cornacchia said.
Orchid will be making about 50 percent of the motors for GM's SUVs.
The company will also be making a motor of its own to market.
Orchid manufactures die-casting products for the automotive, appliance, lighting and other industries. It is also helping to manufacture products to be used in wind turbines. Orchid plans to sell the products to other companies that make wind turbines to produce alternative energy. No buyers for the parts were named because no contracts with other companies have been signed, Cornacchia said.
Cornacchia said the news of the grant was testimony to the hard work and dedication of the 146 people employed at the Monroe facility. Before Orchid International purchased the Advance Transformer factory in 2004, the facility was scheduled to be closed, he said.
"There are tremendous people working in this plant," he said. "None of this could have been accomplished without the people in our facility."
The National Emergency Grant, coordinated by the Department of Workforce Development and regional Workforce Development boards, is used to help displaced workers affected by the downturn in the economy.
"We're so excited about this," Green County Development Corporation Coordinator Anna Schramke said. "This demonstrated the importance of cooperation between groups to secure funding."
Monroe Alderman Chuck Schuringa, whose ward includes the Orchid plant, said the announcement was beneficial for the whole area.
"As long as we can put people back to work, it's good for everybody," he said.
The news was good for Monroe, Green County and Wisconsin, said U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who spoke at the announcement.
"Putting Wisconsinites back to work is our highest priority," she said. "Despite the loss of jobs, we haven't lost our work ethic."
The new motors Orchid will build are indicative of the green jobs that will be created throughout the state, said Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman, who also attended the event. She estimated 16,000 environmentally-friendly jobs will be created in the next few years.
"This is going to start putting people back to work," she said. "We have good workers in Wisconsin and retraining gives them the tools they need to participate in the changing marketplace."
In addition to Baldwin and Gassman, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and several local officials attended the announcement.
Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Pam Christopher said the Chamber also helped to bring the grant to Orchid. Christopher said she met with representatives from the DWD and Baldwin's office to help them consider Monroe for the grant.
In an announcement Wednesday at Orchid's manufacturing plant, 350 21st St., director of Orchid's Laminations Group Keith Cornacchia announced three or four people will be hired immediately, while the remaining workers will be hired in 2012.
"This is an incredible victory for this plant," Cornacchia said.
Cornacchia said the plant is developing lightweight electric motors for General Motors. The motors will be used by the company in its 2013 sports utility vehicles, he said.
"You will see a fully electric vehicle driving around Monroe," Cornacchia said.
Orchid will be making about 50 percent of the motors for GM's SUVs.
The company will also be making a motor of its own to market.
Orchid manufactures die-casting products for the automotive, appliance, lighting and other industries. It is also helping to manufacture products to be used in wind turbines. Orchid plans to sell the products to other companies that make wind turbines to produce alternative energy. No buyers for the parts were named because no contracts with other companies have been signed, Cornacchia said.
Cornacchia said the news of the grant was testimony to the hard work and dedication of the 146 people employed at the Monroe facility. Before Orchid International purchased the Advance Transformer factory in 2004, the facility was scheduled to be closed, he said.
"There are tremendous people working in this plant," he said. "None of this could have been accomplished without the people in our facility."
The National Emergency Grant, coordinated by the Department of Workforce Development and regional Workforce Development boards, is used to help displaced workers affected by the downturn in the economy.
"We're so excited about this," Green County Development Corporation Coordinator Anna Schramke said. "This demonstrated the importance of cooperation between groups to secure funding."
Monroe Alderman Chuck Schuringa, whose ward includes the Orchid plant, said the announcement was beneficial for the whole area.
"As long as we can put people back to work, it's good for everybody," he said.
The news was good for Monroe, Green County and Wisconsin, said U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who spoke at the announcement.
"Putting Wisconsinites back to work is our highest priority," she said. "Despite the loss of jobs, we haven't lost our work ethic."
The new motors Orchid will build are indicative of the green jobs that will be created throughout the state, said Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman, who also attended the event. She estimated 16,000 environmentally-friendly jobs will be created in the next few years.
"This is going to start putting people back to work," she said. "We have good workers in Wisconsin and retraining gives them the tools they need to participate in the changing marketplace."
In addition to Baldwin and Gassman, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, and several local officials attended the announcement.
Monroe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Pam Christopher said the Chamber also helped to bring the grant to Orchid. Christopher said she met with representatives from the DWD and Baldwin's office to help them consider Monroe for the grant.