Trucilla's proposed new Erie County GED program could change lives — and Erie's workforce
Recently, I read with great interest the March 10 op-ed article written by Erie County Judge John Trucilla supporting a countywide General Educational Development (GED) program. I could not agree more with Judge Trucilla's belief that education will not only transform lives, but also our community.
As the general manager of our family company, Industrial Sales and Manufacturing Inc., I am deeply involved with the local manufacturing and business communities. Over the last few decades, I have also had the honor of serving on several community organizations and institutions (Manufacturer & Business Association of Erie, Gannon University, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, to name a few). Through both my work responsibilities and my community service, I have been in ongoing conversations with company owners and business stakeholders throughout Erie County for over 30 years. Sadly, a continuing theme among employers is the lack of applicants and prospective employees — and this has gotten progressively worse each year.
Not having a high school education can keep many potential employees from even applying for family-sustaining employment opportunities at a company like ours. As emphasized in Judge Trucilla's article, securing your GED can be the vehicle for many at-risk students — and adults who did not complete high school — to confidently apply for employment and begin a career.
Obtaining your GED enables students and adults to reach a goal that was previously out of reach — joining a team, providing for themselves and/or their families, building a stable financial foundation, and beginning a career path toward growing their skill sets and income-earning potential.
With the GED certificate in hand, these men and women are now eligible to enter the workforce as viable job applicants. Obtaining the GED enlarges the resource pool of prospective employees who could secure positions with manufacturing jobs paying life-sustaining wages with supportive health benefits and stable pension plans.
Our community must compete. We need to have access to quality candidates for the workforce as the workforce needs family-sustaining wages. This path allows our community to add to its workforce depth.
More: 'Three letters that could change a life' - Erie Co. Judge Trucilla on the value of a GED
I applaud Judge Trucilla and his endeavor to ignite both the conversation and a plan to add educational opportunities for students and others throughout Erie County — to opening a door that can truly be life-changing. Education is a necessary component of Erie's growth and vital to its future. Judge Trucilla is correct — that in certain circumstances, the GED can be life-changing.
Jim Rutkowski Jr. is the general manager of Industrial Sales & Mfg. Inc., a leading contract manufacturer since 1967 in Erie County. Mr. Rutkowski also serves on the boards of directors of Gannon University, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership (current chairman of the Economic Development Committee), Erie Regional Manufacturing Partnership, and Team PA Manufacturing Collaborative. He has previously served as president of the Manufacturer & Business Association of Erie, SVHS, and Erie Business Advisory Council of Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank, and the Governor's Manufacturing Council.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Rutkowski backs Judge Trucilla's call for new Erie County GED program
