Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By STEVE NEWMAN
Marenisco — Waupaca Foundry, a company subsidiary based in Waupaca, Wis., held a job fair Friday that continues today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Marenisco Town Hall, with the possibility of locating a plant on the Gogebic Range.
According to Donna Kenney, of Marenisco Township, the company approached the township about a job fair two to three weeks ago. According to Richard Bouvette, township supervisor, Waupaca’s interest in locating in the area is “extremely serious” and they are “looking for a viable workforce.” He indicated among area locations, Waupaca is looking at the Marenisco location as its “first choice.”
The company already held a job fair at the Ojibway Correctional Facility, west of Marenisco, on Tuesday and Wednesday for workers who may be displaced if the Michigan Department of Corrections is successful in closing the facility as planned on Dec. 1.
From what he has heard from the company so far, it would offer competitive wages, with benefits including 401k plans and health insurance.
According to company spokesperson Sara Timm, Waupaca is interested in expansion. The two most important factors in deciding where to expand, according to Timm, are workforce availability and state incentives.
The company is holding the job fair in Marenisco to assess workforce availability in the area. The jobs that Waupaca is initially looking to offer would be entry-level, with competitive wages. Timm stressed that Waupaca is looking at multiple options in several states for expansion. Timm said the workforce assessment could be complete in a couple weeks, but that any announcement of expansion could be made in anywhere from six months to years.
Waupaca Foundry is headquartered, and has three foundries in Waupaca. Timm mentioned the company employs 1,600 people in three foundries in Wisconsin and 4,500 people nationwide.
The company is the leading maker of castings for the automotive industry. It makes cast parts for cars, including brakes and engines.
Waupaca Foundry also has foundry operations in Marinette, Wis .; Tell City, Ind .; Etowah, Tenn., and Lawrenceville, Pa.
Additionally, Waupaca has machining and assembly operations in Effingham, Ill.. and Wellsboro, Pa. The company is part of the Hitachi Metals Group, a Japanese company, and has won numerous awards for quality, as well as professional excellence.
The company recently opened its own free medical clinic for employees and retirees and their dependents in Waupaca.
For more information on positions at Waupaca Foundry, check online at jobs.waupacafoundry.com.
