BLACKWOOD, July 29, 2010 — Commissioner Harold J. Wirths visited Renaissance Marble & Granite, Inc. in Blackwood to learn first-hand how the company’s workers are using the skills they acquired through the New Jersey Basic Skills Workforce Training Program. The training initiative is a partnership by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, and the New Jersey County College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development.

Commissioner Wirths said, "Renaissance Marble is one of the tremendous success stories illustrating the effectiveness of this partnership of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and the New Jersey Community Colleges. This initiative is helping keep good jobs in our state by investing, along with the employers, in training for their workers in key skills vital to the continued success of New Jersey's small businesses."

Joining Commissioner Wirths was Senator Fred Madden, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, Camden County College President Raymond Yannuzzi, Camden  County College vice president for economic development Edward McDonnell, and New Jersey Business and Industry Vice President Chris Biddle for a briefing and tour of the company.

The New Jersey Basic Skills Workforce Training Program provided training to Renaissance Marble & Granite, Inc. that helped the company improve its operations in the midst of a challenging economic climate that was especially difficult for small businesses.

Renaissance Senior Vice President Brian Kaufmann detailed how the business increased efficiency and productivity after approximately 30 employees participated in training classes in math and computer skills.

The New Jersey Basic Skills Workforce Training Program provides training to New Jersey employers who want to upgrade the skills of employees in basic computer applications, mathematics and measurement, verbal, written, and customer service communications, and English as a second language. The training program is available at no charge to participating companies although employers are required to pay employees at their regular hourly rate while in training.

The Basic Skills Workforce Training Program has trained approximately 17,000 employees at more than 1,100 businesses since the program’s inception in 2007.

For more information about the training program go to: www.njbia.org/resources/worktrain.asp

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