Balderson tours Tusco Mfg. plant, talks workforce development

GNADENHUTTEN ‒ U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, met Thursday with officials of a local company that has come up with some innovative ways to address the shortage of workers that has plagued U.S. businesses and industries since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Balderson, who represents the 12th Congressional District, which includes the western half of Tuscarawas County, toured the Tusco Mfg. plant in Gnadenhutten. Tusco, which has been in business for 75 years, makes custom store displays for companies throughout the country.

To find workers, the company has provided flexible work hours, hired part-time workers and employed high school students.

Kait Gallagher-Wilsterman, the company's marketing manager, told the congressman Tusco works to accommodate people who want to work but haven't been able to in traditional settings, specially manufacturing. The company uses social media, yard signs and has a big banner on the front of its building to let people know it is hiring. The sign is designed to attract the attention of motorists headed to Indian Valley High School and its football stadium, which are next to the plant.

More on finding workers:Gnadenhutten company gets creative to address worker shortage

Flexible hours have allowed the company to hire more women. Currently, Tusco's workforce is 47% women.

The company also works with Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia and the Coshocton County Career Center to find employees. Two welders started there through career center school-to-work programs. When they graduated, they were offered full-time positions as welders, Gallagher-Wisterman said.

"Right now, we're looking into child care opportunities, because there just aren't enough providers," said Teresa Parrish, the company's director of human resources. "So how can we help our workforce and how can we have that opportunity to bring more people in that want to?"

The three barriers preventing people from working are child care and its cost, transportation and housing. "A lot of companies are really trying to solve those three barriers so they can get the employees into the workforce," said Janelle Lee, director of client engagement for MAGNET, a state agency that assists manufacturers in northeast Ohio.

"What we're hearing, they're done waiting on all these local governments and everybody that are fighting over territories and whatnot and they're doing their own thing," Balderson noted. Some companies have purchased buses to provide transportation.

Following the tour, the congressman said the visit to Tusco was great. "It's a great opportunity for not only me to come to Tusco, but my staff, and we get to see the opportunities that are here in the 12th Congressional District."

He praised the company, noting that the work environment there is phenomenal, the employees are passionate about where they work and Tusco has adapted to change.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at [email protected].